Troop Talk
Has the surcharge for the commissary gone up? And why do they charge a surcharge?
The surcharge, mandated and set by Congress, has remained at 5 percent since 1983. Surcharge goes solely to commissaries. It pays for construction of new stores, modification of existing ones, equipment and maintenance, all of which make shopping more convenient and pleasant. It provides modern facilities for military servicemembers at reduced cost to taxpayers.
Surcharge is applied to the total value of each commissary purchase and is used in price comparisons that find commissary shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent of what they would spend at civilian grocery stores.
Several questions were asked about housing. GMH Military Housing is committed to providing the best housing possible for our Soldiers and families and provided the following update.
Since July 1, 2005, GMH Military Housing has completed conversions of 972 evaporative coolers to refrigerated air conditioning, 18 major non-historical renovations and 80 major historical renovations.
All of the Lindquist, Upper and Lower Beaumont (non-historical), 108s, George Moore and Logan Heights housing units have been converted to refrigerated air. Major interior renovation is ongoing in Logan Heights as occupants vacate the homes. Historical renovations in the Red Brick junior enlisted homes and Pershing historical district are currently in progress as units are vacated. Eighty renovations have been completed to date.
Based on a recent major agreement between the Department of the Army Residential Communities Initiative, Fort Bliss leadership and GMH Military Housing, North and South Main Post houses will not be immediately replaced, but will be renovated instead. Renovations are projected to begin in January with the installation of refrigerated air conditioning and other repairs.
Even though the Van Horne area is scheduled for demolition sometime in the future, GMH is going ahead with needed repairs, both interior and exterior, i.e., new roofs, kitchen upgrades, ceiling fans, light kits, new doors, dishwashers and carpet. Replacement of the older evaporative coolers with master coolers, which are much more efficient in this climate, has already been completed.
Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox
Fort Bliss Commanding General