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October 27, 2020 / NEWS RELEASE: 49-20
Military Students Overseas to Receive Free School Meals
On Nov. 2, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) will begin serving meals free of charge to military students who are enrolled in an overseas Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school. The free meal waiver was granted the U.S. Department of Agriculture for food services operated by School Food Authorities (NEXCOM, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) or Marine Corps Community Services).
“Providing free school meals is a great way to ensure all of our student customers have access to healthy and fresh food,” said Orlando Del Hoyo, Student Meal Program Specialist for NEXCOM. “This effort will also lessen the financial burden on our service members and their families during these unprecedented times. NEXCOM remains in close coordination with DoDEA and the USDA to ensure a successful rollout.”
A recent waiver by the USDA granted DoD School Food Authorities the authority to provide free school meals through June 30, 2021. Families can elect to participate and receive free reimbursable meals, subsidized by the USDA, at participating schools and grab-and-go locations beginning Nov. 2. Participants are required to have a DoDEA student ID number and student meal account through NEXCOM, the AAFES or the Marine Corps Community Services. No action is required to receive free school meals for students with an established school meal program account. Parents without an account are encouraged to create one in advance for their children at their local NEX customer service desk.
School meals purchased prior to implementation of the waiver (August through Oct. 31), will be credited to the appropriate student meal program account. The credit does not apply to adult meals, second meals, a la carte items or “lunch plus” purchases.
NEXCOM facilitates student meals and serves as the DoD School Food Authorities at 20 schools in nine different overseas locations. Those overseas locations supported are Yokosuka, Atsugi and Sasebo, Japan; Anderson Air Force Base and U.S. Naval Base Guam; Naples, Italy; Bahrain; Sigonella, Sicily; Rota, Spain; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
For additional information, including FAQs, parents can visit the school meal program site at is www.mynavyexchange.com/smp.
About NEXCOM
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) oversees 100 Navy Exchange (NEX) facilities and nearly 300 stores worldwide, 39 Navy Lodges, the Ships Store Program, the Uniform Program Management Office, the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility and the Telecommunications Program Office. NEXCOM's parent command is the Naval Supply Systems Command. NEXCOM’s mission is to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs for active duty military, retirees, reservists and their families. NEXs and Navy Lodges operate primarily as a non-appropriated fund (NAF) business instrumentality. NEX revenues generated are used to support Navy Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs. In FY15, $2.5 billion in sales were generated with $22.3 million in dividends provided to Navy MWR programs.
