Overseas, remote commissaries to remain open during government shutdown

FORT LEE, Va. – Commissaries overseas and in certain remote stateside locations will be open during the government shutdown, the Defense Commissary Agency announced today.

DeCA’s announcement means 38 commissaries in Europe, one store in Puerto Rico and 28 stores in the Pacific (including two in Guam), will remain open during a government shutdown as a safety and security measure to serve U.S. troops and their families stationed overseas.

Commissaries in five remote stateside locations will also remain open: Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport and Fort Irwin in California; Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and Fort Greely in Alaska; and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

The remainder of stateside commissaries, including those in Alaska and Hawaii, will follow an orderly shutdown to prepare for closing so they can reduce their stocks of perishables and properly safeguard equipment and facilities. The operating times of these stores will vary as they prepare to close. Patrons of these stores are asked to check commissaries.com for local schedules.

“The Defense Department recognizes how significant the commissary benefit is for our military’s wellbeing and quality of life – especially for our service members and their families stationed overseas and in remote areas in the U.S.,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, interim DeCA director and CEO. “We will do our best to support our military communities whenever and wherever possible.

“For the stores preparing to close for the shutdown, commissary patrons are advised to take advantage of these last-minute opportunities to save even more as these stores look to reduce their inventories of perishable products,” Bianchi added.

For more details, go to the Defense Commissary Agency website or its Facebook and Twitter sites. During the shutdown, commissary customers will be able to access existing information on DeCA’s website. However, that site and the agency’s social media platforms will not be updated until the shutdown is over.

Bianchi recommends that service members and their families stay tuned in to their local news outlets for information about any impact to services on their installations.

The Department of Defense website, and its social media platforms are expected to be continually updated with information and breaking news that affects service members and federal government civilian employees.