FEBRUARY 11, 2025 – DoD Civilian employees can now shop at a select group of Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) stores located in the US until April 4, 2025. In Virginia, the following stores include Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base Commissaries, Little Creek Commissary, Naval Base Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana and Norfolk Naval Shipyard Commissary located in the Scott Center Annex.
Eligible employees will need to show their Common Access Card (CAC) to shop and save. Please note that the temporary access is not open to DoD Civilian family members, former or retired DoD Civilians, and does not include the purchase of tobacco or alcohol products and access to online shopping.
“The most rewarding part of my job is to service the people who serve us,” said Director of the Portsmouth NNSY complex Melvin Sloane. “All of those individuals who serve in the military and who support our military.”
Since the pilot program was established, Sloane has seen an increase in pedestrian traffic from the shipyard employees coming over and buying lunch and checking out the store.
“I would like to welcome all the DoD employees to shop at the Portsmouth Commissary and I would like to let them know that if there is anything or any questions, they have, I am always available to help,” said Sloane. “They can call me at 757-215-7740 ext. 3001 or email me at Melvin.Sloane@deca.mil.”
The Scott Center Annex commissary’s meat department has butchers, and they cut up to 95 percent of the store’s meats. The butcher is available during store hours and customers can request special cuts or anything else they may need from the meat department.
According to the DeCA press release, “DeCA has been tasked by the DoD to closely monitor any effects of the increased patronage on the pilot stores’ operations and report those findings to DoD. The findings will then assist the Defense Department in determining the feasibility of expanding the benefit to all DoD civilians.”
For more information, please visit corp.commissaries.com/civilian-expansion Scott Center Annex Commissary Hours – Sunday 0830 to 1700, Monday through Friday 0830 to 1900 and Saturday 0730 to 1800.
Story by Susanne Greene
Norfolk Naval Shipyard