Action Line Published June 6, 2008 TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Q: I retired from the Air Force in 1991. And at that time only authorized person were allowed to purchase item (for their own use) at the commissary. In fact until a couple years ago, only ID card holders were even allowed to enter the commissary. However (I assume as a way for the services to make more money) everyone is welcome in the commissary, siblings, friends, neighbors, co-workers, as long as the person paying has the golden key called a proper ID card. On any day you can walk through the commissary and see folks older than I with their grown daughter, etc shopping. But of course the retired person shows their ID and all is well. On April 16 I stopped in to pick up a few things and the cart in front of me was accompanied by two grown women. But neither showed an ID and the older lady paid by credit card but the items bought went into the younger lady's vehicle. On a second stop at a hardware store, I saw the younger lady turn into store close by. I pulled up beside her and noticed that only the paper products were still in the vehicle. She had at least four large bottles of orange juice but they were gone (plus other items). Won't it be something if the items bought was for commercial use and not person use? I know the funds the BX and Commissary make helps the military community, but to me, allowing unauthorized persons the benefits, those who fought and died for this country earned, is a slap in the face. A: In 1999, the Department of Defense changed the policy on identification checks and visitors to make the commissary more customer-friendly and more efficient use of manpower in assisting customers. The policy change was a direct result of commissary patron requests for change. The policy provides for consistent patron ID checks at the cash register rather than at the entry of the store. Naturally, exceptions are permitted for valid security reasons at the discretion of the installation commander. The Tinker Commissary continues to check ID cards as diligently as ever. DoD guidance on visitors states, "Visitors may accompany authorized patrons into the commissary, but are not authorized to make commissary purchases." It became increasingly difficult to justify not allowing visitors in the commissary when they are allowed in all other service and retail facilities on the installation. Commissaries are "supermarkets for the military," and there is no reason why commissaries should differ from other base facilities. The Defense Commissary Agency's policy on unauthorized shoppers in the commissary is that it will not be tolerated. However, we do not have any control once our customers depart the commissary. At this point, it is up to the ID card holder to protect and honor their commissary benefits. For more information contact John Spaur, commissary store director, (405) 734-5212, extension 2000 or by e-mail at john.spaur@deca.mil.