More Veterans get Access to Online Exchange Shopping

The Department of Defense will expand access to more than 16 million eligible veterans to shop online at military exchanges with reduced prices.  Peter K. Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed a memorandum Wednesday announcing the benefit expansion, effective Veterans' Day November 11, 2017,  giving Congress the required 30 days' notice before actions begin to implement the plan.

Months of preparation are needed to make e-shopping portals more robust and to allow the Defense Manpower Data Center time to create software for verifying veterans' status against the Department of Veterans Affairs records.

Several million veterans are already eligible to shop in exchanges-on base or online-because they are active or reserve component retirees, or 100-percent disabled from service-connected injuries or ailments, or Medal of Honor recipients. A major reason for the change is the hope of increasing revenue at exchanges to help offset troubling declines due to the drawdown of active duty forces, base closures and the end of military tobacco discounts.  Higher net earnings are expected to boost exchange dividends that support on-base morale, welfare and recreational activities.

Source:  FRA NewsBytes, 20 JAN 2017