The Purple Heart Heroes Act of 2015 proposes to expand commissary privileges to include veterans who received a Purple Heart medal for wounds received in combat and have a service-connected disability rating from the VA related to that combat injury. Currently, commissary access is limited to active duty military, reserves, retirees, and 100% disabled veterans. The proposed act would instruct the Secretary of Defense to issue new guidelines authorizing commissary use for this additional group of wounded combat veterans who were awarded the Purple Heart.
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Purple Heart Heroes Act white paper
1. Purple Heart Heroes Act of 2015
Overview:
The purpose isto establishuniformpoliciesrelatingtothe operationof the Defense commissarysystem
and to define those whoare authorizedtouse thisbenefit.The Departmentof Defense hasbeen
authorizedtooperate militarycommissariesasanintegral elementof the militarypayandbenefits
package.The primaryconsiderationinauthorizingcommissaryprivilegesisthe compensationstatusof
the sponsormilitarymember.
Current Requirementsof DoDI 1330.17
Section3 statesthat the followingpersonnel are authorizedorentitledtocommissaryprivileges.The
categoriesof uniformedpersonnel are authorizedcommissaryprivileges:the militaryservices,the
USPHS CommissionedCorps,the NOAA CommissionedCorpsanditspredecessors membersof the
reserve components,andcadetsandmidshipmenof the militaryacademies.Wage Marine Personnel,
RetiredPersonnel,Medal of HonorRecipients,and100 PercentDisabledVeterans.
RetiredPersonnel include:anypersononthe official retiredlists(ActiveandReserve Components) of
the uniformedserviceswhoare retiredwithpay,grantedretirementpayforphysical disability,or
entitledtoretirementpaywhetherornotsuch pay iswaivedorpendingdue toage requirement.
Officersandcrewsof vessels,lighthouse keepersordepotkeepersof the formerLighthouse Service.
Also,retiredwage marine personnel,includingretirednoncommissionedshipsofficers,andcrewsof
vesselsof NOAA anditspredecessors.
Proposed:
To instructthe Secretaryof Defense toissue new qualificationsforwhoisconsideredauthorized
personnel.Thisnew directive should include asauthorizedpatrons veteranswhohave beenwoundedin
combat bythe enemy,receivedthe Purple Heartfortheirwounds,andhave receivedaservice
connecteddisabilityratingfromthe Departmentof VeteransAffairsforadisabilitydirectlyrelatedto
theircombatrelatedinjury.