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Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- In a Navy message released Sept. 3, the Commander, Navy Installations (CNI) Com-mand discontinued cash sales at CONUS ashore galleys for civilians and contractors who do not work in the galley effective Oct. 1, 2004. The change only affects galleys at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. It does not affect the general mess hybrid galley at Naval Station Everett.  The primary purpose of Navy galleys is to provide meal service to active duty Sailors who are receiving rations in kind (RIK). Galleys are staffed and operated specifically for that purpose.  The authority to feed DoD civilians has always required that civilian use not result in increased expenses and that cash sales capture all costs associated with civilian use of the galley. Recent re-examination revealed that cash sales were not capturing all costs, but rather only food product cost.  The long-term solution may be to raise the surcharge; however, authority to raise this charge does not exist within the Navy today. Until that can be done, cash sales to civilians and contractors are no longer authorized. “I am in the process of reviewing all shore infrastructure costs, including costs to operate galleys. The Navy’s Seapower 21 vision requires the Navy to investigate all business practices and find ways to operate more efficiently, and then use those savings to create the Navy of the future,” said Rear Adm. Len Hering, Commander, Navy Region Northwest. Hering went on to say that before this change was announced, he made sure civilians and contractors did have alternative food service facilities available to them both on, or in close proximity to, each of our installations. As of Oct. 1, authorized users of the galley are: active duty, reserve personnel on orders, retirees with valid ID card, dependents when accompanied by the sponsor, personnel on travel with orders stamped with messing available, and non-profit youth groups such as NROTC and Sea Scouts while aboard the base. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/cni_announces_change_in_galley_sales/