Base exchange Wikipedia
Unlike commissaries (military grocery stores), exchanges, for the most part, do not receive significant appropriations from the federal government and must operate on a for-profit basis. With the exception of military personnel assigned to duty with the exchange services, exchange service employees’ salaries are paid from revenues generated from sales of merchandise, except for annual raises from funds appropriated by Congress. Exchanges are deemed Category C non-appropriated fund (NAF) activities, meaning they are designed to not only be self-sufficient, but generate a profit. Limited base exchange privileges are extended to members of the Civil Air Patrol and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and Civil Air Patrol cadets may all have varying degrees of privileges (such as only being allowed to shop for uniform items or only being allowed when visiting installations as part of a sponsored activity).
- Shopping privileges can vary overseas according to applicable status-of-forces agreements with host nations.
- Base exchanges sell consumer goods and services to authorized patrons such as active duty, reserve, national guard, retired members of the U.S.
- With the exception of military personnel assigned to duty with the exchange services, exchange service employees’ salaries are paid from revenues generated from sales of merchandise, except for annual raises from funds appropriated by Congress.
- The terminology varies by armed service; some examples include base exchange (BX), and post exchange (PX), and there are more specific terms for subtypes of exchange.
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The terminology varies by armed service; some examples bx vs px include base exchange (BX), and post exchange (PX), and there are more specific terms for subtypes of exchange. Exchanges are normally located on military reservations and, as a result, do not pay rent or tax for the use of land. Exchanges’ tax-exempt status (as instrumentalities of the U.S. Government) also reduces certain operating expenses. While exchanges must pay for the cost of transporting goods within the contiguous United States, Congress appropriates funds to subsidize the transportation costs of American merchandise to overseas exchange locations so that such items are available and affordable to personnel stationed overseas. In the last ten years, more than $2.24 billion has been contributed by the exchange to the Army and Air Force to spend on quality of life improvements for Soldiers, Airmen and their families—Youth Services, Armed Forces Recreation Centers, arts and crafts, aquatic centers, post functions and golf courses.
- Foreign national active duty officer and enlisted members, when visiting U.S. military installation for unofficial business.clarification needed Merchandise is restricted to quantities required for personal use.
- Exchanges are deemed Category C non-appropriated fund (NAF) activities, meaning they are designed to not only be self-sufficient, but generate a profit.
- Unlike commissaries (military grocery stores), exchanges, for the most part, do not receive significant appropriations from the federal government and must operate on a for-profit basis.
- Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card, either when entering the store or when paying for goods and services.
- Exchanges are normally located on military reservations and, as a result, do not pay rent or tax for the use of land.
Base exchange
Foreign national active duty officer and enlisted members, when visiting U.S. military installation for unofficial business.clarification needed Merchandise is restricted to quantities required for personal use. At many overseas locations, exchange privileges are determined as part of the local status of forces agreement. Base exchanges sell consumer goods and services to authorized patrons such as active duty, reserve, national guard, retired members of the U.S. Other authorized patrons include honorably discharged veterans certified 100% disabled and/or totally and permanently disabled (TPD) by the Veterans Administration, recipients of the Medal of Honor, military transition personnel,clarification needed DoD employees, Red Cross personnel who are U.S. citizens assigned outside the United States with the military service. Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card, either when entering the store or when paying for goods and services. An exchange is a type of retail store found on United States military installations worldwide.
Base exchange
Shopping privileges are also generally extended in overseas locations to U.S. federal government civilian employees and their dependents who are assigned overseas. Shopping privileges can vary overseas according to applicable status-of-forces agreements with host nations. Most (but not all) sales by exchanges are free of state and local sales or VAT taxes as the sales take place on U.S. military reservations (exceptions include gasoline sales in the U.S. and sales by concessionaires licensed by the exchange).