For decades, the administrations of both parties have tried to whack commissary spending. Civilian leaders never have understood these stores' value to the military community.

"Why is the government in the grocery business?" they ask. "If we get out of it, we save hundreds of millions a year."

They don't get that, for relative chump change, they buy more than a billion dollars in compensation and retention value—especially for lower-ranking servicemembers' families.

For two years, Pentagon leaders have told Congress they won't cut commissary benefits, despite commissary subsidy cuts.

"We'll just get more efficient at delivering it," they said.

They lied.

The Pentagon has announced plans to close 18 commissaries and hopes to close 20 more—including a total of 16 facilities overseas, where families have no other option to get a little bit of home. These insensitive proposals have sparked protests from overseas commanders about the added burden this would pose for families already struggling to cope in the overseas environment while their sponsors are deployed.

The latest and most blatant defense "efficiency" initiative is to assess the potential for selective price increases on commissary items.

Closing stores and raising prices won't cut the benefit? Who's kidding whom? Defense leaders know full well any savings these initiatives generate will translate directly into higher costs for commissary patrons.

We'll be working with Congress to cut through this disingenuousness and take the actions necessary to protect the commissary's great value for patrons and the government. 

Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF-Ret., director of MOAA government relations