WASHINGTON — Military commissaries worldwide returned to normal operating schedules on Monday as the nation entered its second week of partial government shutdown.

The news came after the Defense Department announced Oct. 5 most DoD civilians would be called back to work on Oct. 7. Commissary operations are deemed essential in supporting service members and their families, says the Defense Commissary Agency in a news release.

Most U.S. stores closed Oct. 2 as part of the shutdown, meaning those who relied on inexpensive groceries and goods had no access to them. Worldwide, military commissaries remained open.

While Monday officially marked the reopening, most commissaries are closed on Mondays and reopened on Tuesday. Customers should check their store’s hours for individual operating schedules.

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