Text 37941, 66 rader
Skriven 2010-05-19 14:27:09 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
  Kommentar till text 37874 av Dave Drum (40593.cooking)
Ärende: PX Access
=================
Hi Dave,

 DD> Well, yeah. It's one of the perks of being a lifer. I know several
 DD> retired military who drive the 70 or so miles to Scott AFB to visit
 DD> the PX (or whatever it's called these days) on a monthly basis, for
 DD> their staples. Then fill in around the edges at the local places.

 RH> For Army, it's the PX or Post Exchange.  Air Force call it the BX or
 RH> Base Exchange.  Those 2 are under the same management known as AAFES or
 RH> Army Air Force Exchange System.  The Navy and Marines operate what they
 RH> call an NEX or Navy (Navel?) Exchange System.  Any honerably retired

 DD> When I was in it was called the Navy Exchange (NX)

That doesn't have the "ring" of PX or BX.  Within a few months after we
got to HI, Pearl Harbor opened a new NEX.  We had no reason to go for
probably close to a year after it was opened but finally went for
something.  Found out their food court section has a gyro stand--not
quite like the ones we had in Berlin but pretty decent.  I think any
time we were down there after that trip, if it was a meal time, we
always got the gyro.  I know one time we went over there because we were
in the area (visiting the battleship Missouri) and went there for lunch.
(G)

 RH> veteran and spouse can use any Exchange.  An unremarried widowed spouse
 RH> can as well.  Alcohol, however, is usually sold at a Class VI store;
 RH> I've no idea how that name came about.  An Exchange is like Wal-Mart,
 RH> Belks (or whatever your regional department store is), electronics
 RH> store, etc all in one.  Some high priced stuff, some house brand.

 RH> OTOH, groceries are bought at commissaries.  DeCA or Defense Commissary
 RH> Agency is the umbrella group that is in charge of all stores, no matter
 RH> what branch of service.  Commissaries carry a lot of the same stuff
 RH> from store to store--a large one might have 4-5 brands of ketchup; a
 RH> small one, only a couple, maybe 3 from which to choose.  More organics
 RH> are working their way into the stores.  Regional products are included
 RH> as well; there was a nice selection of macadamia nut products, Kona
 RH> coffees, Hawaiian (from the Big Island) teas and other items at the
 RH> Schofield Barracks store.

 DD> Once again, back before we got heavily involved in SE Asia the NX was
 DD> all combined - goods and grub in the same big building ... like a
 DD> Super Target or Meijer. Maybe like a Super Wally World but I've never
 DD> (and won't be) been in one.

Yes, same as SWW.  We get some staples there--name brand stuff usually.
A few house brands but rather selective on them.  Their price for a lot
of the name brand stuff we buy there (soy milk, oj concentrate) is
better than the regular grocery store. About $2.70 for a half gallon of
Silk brand, chocolate soy milk as compared to over $3.00 elsewhere.

 DD> So now they have separated them out, it seems.

Yes, since DeCA covers only the commissary.


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... OH NO!  Not ANOTHER learning experience!

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 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)