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'No guests allowed' policy to take effect at commissary

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Effective May 1, there will be a "no guests or visitors" policy at the Hickam AFB Commissary in an effort to ensure military privileges are truly reserved for military members and their dependents.

During the past few months, the Hickam Commissary has experienced a sharp growth in customers and accompanying guests, according to Col. Charles Baumgardner, 15th Mission Support Group commander, so military identification checks will be implemented to ensure only authorized patrons may enter the facility. 

"Shopping at the commissary is a benefit for people who earned the privilege," said Rick Means, store director. "We are willing to take a hit in sales in order to preserve the principles of the benefit." 

Following the lead of Defense Department instructions, the policy here will decrease overcrowding during peak shopping periods. Keeping access to authorized patrons also promises to help minimize the necessary number of people in line at the check-out registers, according to Colonel Baumgardner. 

Contrary to popular belief, it actually has very little to do with making sure merchandise is well stocked, Means said. They keep up with the amount of product purchased by adjusting the orders and inventories and making use of local vendors, although "it's tough because most things have to be shipped over the water," he said. 

On the main land, people who shop at the commissary usually save on average 30 percent; here, however, it's more like 48-50 percent because of Hawaii's higher cost of living. 

Commissary sales increased from $3.5 million to $4 millon a month last year when the U.S. economy began to slide, Means said. The Hickam AFB Commissary transactions increased again when the Pearl Harbor Commissary's "no guests" rule took effect last December. However, with all the new housing being built in the area, Means said he doesn't expect that $4 million to decrease when the Hickam Commissary implements the "no guests" policy. 

Even though commissary staff polices the purchasing process well and prevents customers from "splitting" orders when it's obvious they're just buying for one of their guests, it's nearly impossible to completely prevent non-authorized people from shopping, Means said. 

Dependent children who are age 10 and older must have a valid ID in their possession when accompanying their parents to the commissary, according to the 15 MSG. Authorized commissary patrons who physically require assistance to shop should apply for an agent card to allow an agent to shop on their behalf. For more information on obtaining an authorized agent card, call the Hickam AFB Pass and ID at 449-9394.