SHOPPING, FINANCES AND COMMUNITY

PERSONAL FINANCES

Pay and Allowances
A Soldier is entitled to a wide assortment of pay and allowances, depending upon rank and length of service. Beyond your standard paycheck, called Basic Pay, there are other additional forms of pay and allowance a Soldier may receive for things such as basic subsistence, housing and even clothing.

Banks
Full-service banks or credit unions that offer checking accounts, loans and other banking services are found on almost every Army installation. While they are not Army banks, they have the Army’s okay to set up a branch on the Post. You are under no obligation to use these banks; they are there for your convenience. But there are advantages, from low-fee ATMs and reasonable auto-loan financing to being a customer of the on-Post bank or credit union.

Financial Readiness
For some people, the Army is the first time they’ve ever had to manage the finances of a household or even deal with a credit card. This might not apply to you, but believing that you can never know too much about handling your own finances, the Army Community Services Financial Readiness program offers classes and counseling on money management, credit, financial planning, insurance and consumer issues. These classes are designed to help Soldiers and their families become self-sufficient, reduce indebtedness and lessen the need for emergency financial aid.

In addition, the Army has a partnership with the Better Business Bureau to help Soldiers and families become smart consumers and resolve consumer complaints.

ARMY SHOPPING

Commissary
The commissary is the Army’s grocery store, and it provides high-quality groceries at low prices. On larger posts, the commissary is about equal in size to just about anything you might find in the civilian community. In small or remote operating areas and overseas, the commissary tends to stock just the basic necessities. The commissary offers products and brands you are used to seeing in any local supermarket.

Army and Air Force Exchange Services
The AAFES is the Army’s retail store system. In fact, it’s really just a fancy way to say “shopping center,” with all the kind of businesses you’ll find in a strip mall or small-town square anywhere in the country. The main store, often called the Post Exchange or PX is like a department store. Besides the main store, other AAFES facilities you might find on post include barber and beauty shops, flower shops, gas stations, laundry and dry-cleaning stores, tailors, movie theaters and fast-food restaurants.

On most posts, you will find a clothing store that sells official military clothing to soldiers. Many exchanges also have outside concessions or vendors who are allowed to display and sell their wares. 

ARMY COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Installation Volunteer Program
If you’re interested in volunteer work, the Army Volunteer Corps (AVC) is looking for people just to assist with programs for children, provide support and social activities for family members, serve in hospitals, churches and recreation programs. The Volunteer Corps is a good opportunity to learn new skills, and make contacts and new friends. The possibilities are too numerous to list, but this is a place to put your special talents, gifts and skills to work. You could write stories, design posters, teach classes, share computer skills or work with any number of other things that will give you a chance to learn about and contribute to your Army community.

Volunteering gives you a chance to try something new or sharpen skills you already have. This is a great way to help yourself while you help others.

Army Family Action Plan
The Army Family Action Plan brings together soldiers, family members, retirees, civilian employees and the base commander to discuss important issues in their lives. Health care, family housing, schools, pay and benefits are some of the many topics covered. The commander takes action on those that are within his or her ability to change.

The family action plan process doesn’t always end with your local Army community. Issues with wider impact are sent to a higher level where the same process is repeated, and eventually, they may go to the Department of the Army or to the Department of Defense. Policies or even laws can be changed. Some examples of issues that resulted in change were the creation of groups to support family deployment readiness, employment assistance for spouses, education benefits and many child-care improvements. In any community, change can occur if people care enough and use their voices. The Army is no different.

Want to experience life on an actual Army base? Take the goarmy.com virtual tour, which will give you a first-person view of the locations you will visit every day as a Soldier on post.