Completely Random Election: Military exchanges.

[C&Jx2]

When we lived on Ft. Hood about fifteen years ago we called the big Wal-Mart/department store (they had some designer goods as well) a PX, never heard it called a BX. Designer stuff was marginally cheaper but everything else was the same as Wal-Mart or Target. The commissary was the grocery store and they had good prices and sales! The "shopettes" were gas stations/liquor stores, prices weren't bad.

 

[ronandannette]

My DH's father was Royal Canadian Air Force and a lot of the bases he grew up on were a bit remote from town. His mother shopped almost exclusively at the Commissary during some of their postings.

@hardcorestitch - what does "Completely Random Election" mean? You are using it in many of your post titles and I can't see the point.

 

[hardcorestitch]

My DH's father was Royal Canadian Air Force and a lot of the bases he grew up on were a bit remote from town. His mother shopped almost exclusively at the Commissary during some of their postings.

@hardcorestitch - what does "Completely Random Election" mean? You are using it in many of your post titles and I can't see the point.

It’s just my unique way of calling a poll…

 

[AlohaNow]

You were at USMA in the 80s???
Me 1982-1984 E-4

My family moved there when I was a teenager in '85, so I guess we just missed each other! I'm guessing you were MP or 1st of the 1st? It's so sad that the 1st isn't there anymore. It is my understanding that most of those tasks are done by civilian contractors now. The weirdest thing for me, when we go back to visit, is that gate security is civilian contractors rather than soldiers. They are dressed in khakis and polos like they work at Best Buy.

 

[citruscurtis]

@hardcorestitch - what does "Completely Random Election" mean? You are using it in many of your post titles and I can't see the point.

Actually if you do about 10 different site references on how the word election came to be how we know it...the roots...and there are many.. you will discover that the word election is very appropriate as the poster is not doing a survey or poll but one of the 10 options in olde English French and Latin... though Latin isn't old

 

[citruscurtis]

My family moved there when I was a teenager in '85, so I guess we just missed each other! I'm guessing you were MP or 1st of the 1st? It's so sad that the 1st isn't there anymore. It is my understanding that most of those tasks are done by civilian contractors now. The weirdest thing for me, when we go back to visit, is that gate security is civilian contractors rather than soldiers. They are dressed in khakis and polos like they work at Best Buy.

Thank you.. I left in November of 1984 and was a feature reporter for the newspaper and a postal gopher for SJA .. the McDonald's had just opened in 84...my barracks were up on the hill next to the gate... these were the best years of my life. I was not the typical soldier and took advantage of everything happening on the campus..fine arts to skiing.. golfing to movies 3 times a week...and every intermural sport...my best dreams are of USMA

 

[Praying Colonel]

When I was in the Navy in Puerto Rico back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we had an NEX about 10 minutes walk from our house. It had a great cafeteria (Arroz Con Pollo FTW) and better selection than off-base stores, but the prices weren't outstanding. The convenience was the thing. Fort Buchanan in the San Juan area had a much better Exchange than we had in Roosevelt Roads and we were envious.

When I was a DA civilian we were granted PX privileges a few years ago. Selection and prices were not nearly as good as the Walmart Supercenter just off post. I would go to the PX when I needed something quickly and didn't want to go off post.

The Exchanges operate on a for-profit model and the profits are used to fund MWR activities. Now the Commissary (at least when I was on active duty) did not operate on a for-profit basis and the prices really were good.

Also, on the terminology discussion above, in my experience Navy installations are called "Bases," and Army installations are called "Posts." An Exchange on a Navy installation is called a Navy Exchange, or NEX, and an Exchange on an Army installations is called a Post Exchange, or PX. But commissaries are pretty much called commissaries everywhere. And I've never been to an Exchange on an Air Force, Coast Guard or Marine installation, so don't know about those. And I don't claim to have the only right answer here--just my experience, and I yield to others and their experiences.

 

[hardcorestitch]

When I was in the Navy in Puerto Rico back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we had an NEX about 10 minutes walk from our house. It had a great cafeteria (Arroz Con Pollo FTW) and better selection than off-base stores, but the prices weren't outstanding. The convenience was the thing. Fort Buchanan in the San Juan area had a much better Exchange than we had in Roosevelt Roads and we were envious.

When I was a DA civilian we were granted PX privileges a few years ago. Selection and prices were not nearly as good as the Walmart Supercenter just off post. I would go to the PX when I needed something quickly and didn't want to go off post.

The Exchanges operate on a for-profit model and the profits are used to fund MWR activities. Now the Commissary (at least when I was on active duty) did not operate on a for-profit basis and the prices really were good.

Also, on the terminology discussion above, in my experience Navy installations are called "Bases," and Army installations are called "Posts." An Exchange on a Navy installation is called a Navy Exchange, or NEX, and an Exchange on an Army installations is called a Post Exchange, or PX. But commissaries are pretty much called commissaries everywhere. And I've never been to an Exchange on an Air Force, Coast Guard or Marine installation, so don't know about those. And I don't claim to have the only right answer here--just my experience, and I yield to others and their experiences.

Essentially… the soldiers were the shareholders.