Military access & shopping

Commissary shopping privileges

Grocery-shopping access for eligible service-connected veterans and other authorized patrons.

Who may qualify

VA lists honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected rating; a 100% rating is not required. Other pathways include retirees, former POWs and Purple Heart recipients. Bring accepted eligibility identification; overseas rules differ. Purchases are not free and commissary surcharges apply.

What to check next

Review VA eligibility and identification guidance, then confirm installation entry and store requirements.

Agencies decide eligibility. This independent summary is a starting point, not an entitlement decision.

Official source ↗Apply / get help ↗Read our plain-English guide ↗Related guide: Veterans commissary access ↗

Checked 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by Nathan Harlan

Official source inspected October 8, 2026. Installation access uses the newer November 2024 guidance; confirm local rules.

Who built this

Built and reviewed by Nathan Harlan, a U.S. Army Infantry veteran with 15 years of service, including two combat deployments to Iraq, and the founder of Ironsight Syndicate, a veteran-owned brand. I built this because finding the right benefits shouldn't take a law degree. This is an independent guide, not VA-accredited claims representation. For claims help, use a VA-accredited representative.