DoD, Coast Guard Civilians, Retirees Can Now Shop Exchange Online
DALLAS – More than 500,000 Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilians and retirees now have access to the largest Exchange in the world, tax free, at ShopMyExchange.com. DoD and Coast Guard civilians were granted in-store shopping access May 1 after a change in DoD policy.
To authenticate active and retired DoD and Coast Guard civilian and retired employees for online shopping, data coding had to be updated in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, which has now been completed.
“With holiday shopping just around the corner, this comes at a great time for these civilian shoppers,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull. “The Exchange is honored to welcome them to ShopMyExchange.com while strengthening the benefit for Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians.”
The Exchange, the DoD’s largest retailer and the 54th largest retailer in the United States, has served Warfighters since 1895. The Exchange offers tax-free shopping and military-exclusive pricing. 100% of Exchange earnings support our military community.
In the last 10 years, the Exchange benefit has provided $3.4 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs such as outfitting 700,000 Warfighters at cost annually, providing school meal support for Department of Defense Education Activity facilities overseas and delivering needed services to locations impacted by natural disasters.
The civilian privilege expansion marks the third time since 2017 that the Exchange’s shopping base has grown. In January 2020, all Veterans with service-connected disabilities were welcomed back to the installation to shop in person. On Veterans Day 2017, all honorably discharged Veterans were welcomed home to shop tax free at ShopMyExchange.com.
I’m a retired DOD Federal Employee of 28 years. I wanted to clarify if I have privileges to shop in-store at local NEX, MCX, and Commissaries?
Hi, Laverne.
The exchange privileges are online-only for retired DoD employees. There are no commissary privileges, online or in-store.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
Yes you can shop in the store at the commissary. I am a retired DoD at shops at commissary at AFB in Long Beach.
Is the expansion of authorized (retired DOD employees – 42 plus years) patrons applicable to overseas Exchange’s (Germany)? Or only in the USA?
Hi, Jose, and sorry for the long-delayed reply.
DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees on service agreements overseas (in foreign countries and in the U.S. territories and possessions) may continue to access overseas military exchanges with their CAC that displays eligibility for access. DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees visiting or hired at DoD installations in foreign countries (not on a service agreement) are not authorized to access military exchanges in foreign countries unless authorized by host nation laws or international agreements.
Vr,
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
I have received several inquires from retired Civil Service individuals, one in particular retired after 50 years of service another after 42 years. Both are have said; “I served the Government and supported the Warfighter for many years, will there be consideration to allow retirees to shop in-store any time soon?”
Hi, Maurice, and sorry for the long-delayed reply.
DoD’s policy change to extend a lifetime online shopping benefit to Veterans is specific to online shopping only and does not include access to brick-and-mortar exchanges. Visiting brick-and-mortar stores, many of which are on limited-access bases, involves logistics and policy issues to include credentialing, base access, etc., that could strain resources at already busy locations. Offering Veterans an online exchange benefit is a low-risk, low-cost opportunity to recognize their service without increasing costs to the DoD or overburdening the current infrastructure. However, since Jan. 1, 2020, all Veterans with service-connected disabilities have in-store shopping privileges. Additional questions should be directed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs Office.
Vr,
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
As an Exchange retiree living in Japan, am I able to shop online and pick-up my shipment at The Yokota Exchange. I have a retiree ID but can’t shop in-store due to SOFA
Thank you.
Hi, Ken,
Sorry for the delayed response. We checked with our corporate policy office and I’m sorry, but because you don’t have duty-free purchase privileges under SOFA, you are not authorized to buy on-line and pick-up in store.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
So for clarity, as a retired DOD employee am I able to buy on-line and pick-up in store if there are no SOFA constraints or at an exchange in the States?
Hi, Jason,
Yes, that is correct.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
DALLAS – More than 500,000 Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilians and retirees now have access to the largest Exchange in the world, tax free, at ShopMyExchange.com. DoD and Coast Guard civilians were granted in-store shopping access May 1 after a change in DoD policy.Oct 27, 2021
Based on the above I am wondering a a DOD retiree if I can shop in person at a commissary? I have a DOD civilian retiree card that give me base access. Thank you.
Hi, Terry,
Thanks for your question. As of now, DOD retirees cannot shop in person at a commissary.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
Hello all,
Is the DoD’s policy still effective to allow CONUS DoD Civilians to shop with in the exchange or this has been expired as of OCT 2022?
Hi, David,
The policy is still in effect and has not expired. Please let us know if you have had any problems.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
Does the access to shopmyexchange.com for retired DOD civilian employees extend to the retiree’s dependents and/or immediate family member (ie, child)?
Hi, James. The benefit does not extend to dependents or family members.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
Hello –
I am a civilian DOD retiree of 48 years. Where do I go to get certified to shop online?
Hi, Evelyn,
Sorry for the late reply. You should be able to just go to ShopMyExchange.com and create a shopping profile.
Vr,
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post
I am hearing As of April 2023, DoD civilians can no longer shop at the Exchange, that the Department of Defense withdrew that authorization. Is this true?
Hi, Donald.
Sorry for the delayed reply. We’ve checked with the Exchange’s vice president of corporate policy and she has heard nothing about this. It appears to be an untrue rumor.
Vr,
Robert Philpot
Exchange Post editor
Hello. I looked on the my exchange site to see if DoD retired civilians are eligible to shop online. I did not see that it was listed.
Are retired DoD civilians still able to shop online?
Thank you,
Kerry
Hi, Kerry,
Retired DoD civilians should be able to shop online at shopmyexchange.com.
Robert Philpot
The Exchange Post