Military benefits / Shopping, Travel & Recreation

Commissary, Exchange and MWR Perks

Active duty, Guard and Reserve members, retirees and their families. Many veterans with a service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and caregivers can also shop on base.

The commissary sells groceries at cost plus a small surcharge, the exchange sells everything else with no sales tax, and MWR offers cheap or free fun. Together they can save a family a lot each year.

What it is

  • Commissary: The on-base grocery store run by the Defense Commissary Agency. Items are sold at cost, plus a 5% surcharge that pays for building and fixing stores. There is no sales tax.
  • Exchange: The on-base department store (AAFES for Army and Air Force, NEX for Navy, MCX for Marines, CGX for Coast Guard). It sells clothes, electronics, furniture, gas and more, with no sales tax.
  • MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation): Gyms, pools, bowling, golf, outdoor gear rental, travel offices with discount tickets, campgrounds, libraries and youth sports. Many services are free or cheap.

Who gets it

Active duty, Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and their families with a valid ID. Since 2020, veterans with a service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and approved caregivers can also shop on base. All honorably discharged veterans can shop the exchanges online.

How to use it

  • Shop the commissary sales and use the Commissary Click2Go online ordering where it is offered.
  • Compare prices on big items. Exchanges also have a price match policy.
  • Use the MILITARY STAR card wisely. It has perks, like a lower rate and deferred payment options during deployments, but treat it like any credit card.
  • Visit your base ITT or ITR office for discounted tickets to theme parks, concerts, sports and travel.
  • Rent gear from Outdoor Recreation. Camping gear, kayaks, trailers and party supplies cost far less than civilian rentals.

What people miss

  • Armed Forces Recreation Centers. The military runs resort hotels for families, like Shades of Green at Walt Disney World and the Hale Koa in Hawaii. Prices are based on rank.
  • Military campgrounds and cabins. Many bases have RV parks, beach cottages and cabins at low cost.
  • Free fitness. Base gyms and many fitness classes are free.
  • Library perks. Base and online military libraries offer free e-books, test prep and language courses.
  • Guard and Reserve families. You can shop the commissary and exchange all the time, not only during drill.
  • Discounts off base. Many businesses give military discounts, but always compare. A discount off a high price is not a deal.
  • Exchange profits come back to you. Exchange earnings help fund MWR programs on your base. Shopping there supports the gyms, pools and youth programs your family uses.
  • Free and low-cost events. MWR runs holiday parties, movie nights, concerts and family fun days that are often free. Follow your base MWR page for the calendar.
  • Overseas gas and rations. Overseas bases may offer tax-free fuel coupons or ration programs. Ask at your local exchange.

Tips for saving the most

  1. Make a grocery list and compare commissary prices to local stores on your usual items.
  2. Stack commissary coupons with weekly sales.
  3. Buy big-ticket items, like appliances and electronics, at the exchange to skip sales tax.
  4. Check ITT before booking any trip.

Related

See Space-A Travel and Military Lodging for low-cost travel, and our Retirees section for benefits you keep after service.

Related benefits

  • Space-A Flights and Military Lodging
    Space-Available (Space-A) travel lets you fly on military aircraft for free or very little when there are open seats. It takes patience and flexible plans, but it can save a family a lot. Base lodging can be a cheap place to stay along the way.
  • Basic Pay and the 2026 Pay Raise
    Basic pay is the core of your paycheck and the number most other benefits are based on. Troops got a 3.8% raise in January 2026. Knowing how basic pay works helps you read your LES and plan for retirement.
  • BAH and BAS: Your Housing and Food Allowances
    BAH helps pay for housing and BAS helps pay for food, and neither one is taxed. For 2026, BAH rose an average of 4.2% and BAS rose 2.4%. These tax-free dollars are a big part of what you really earn.
  • Special Pays, Bonuses and Military Tax Breaks
    Beyond basic pay, many troops earn extra pay for where they serve or what they do. Combined with tax-free allowances, the combat zone tax exclusion and state residency rules, the military gives you more ways to cut your tax bill than most people realize.

Last reviewed 2026-11. Not affiliated with the Department of Defense. Confirm current rates with your finance office or the official source.

Sources