Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Facebook – A true gift to military spouses

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By Marguerite Cleveland

     I am sure not many of you remember Pcs’ing before cellphones and Facebook but it was so tough to stay in touch with your military sisters with mail crossing or getting lost between new addresses. I love Facebook, it has given me a way to keep in touch and reconnect with people I know from all over the world. I also find Facebook pages or groups are a great way to learn about your new community and meet new friends. With the busy military lifestyle we live and the different time zones friends and family live in, Facebook provides a great way to keep up with what is going on when phone calls aren’t convenient or expensive plus there are photos and videos. In five minutes each morning, I can quickly post an update on what I am doing and then scroll through my feed and get updated on all my friends and family.

     One of the first groups you will want to join when you arrive at your new installation, especially if living on base, is your neighborhood page. If you know someone in the neighborhood you can often get added before you arrive. These are a wealth of helpful information from schools to local sports teams for your children. Military neighbors are the best and this has been my go to group for all kinds of help.

Photo Credit: © pixs:sell/Adobe Stock

     I love to travel and a group of spouses set up a travel page for our area. When you move there is also this sense ‘I need to see as much as I can before moving again.’  This page streamlines the process with a group who is willing to share all the must sees in our area. We even have a few bloggers and writers that provide links to more in-depth descriptions of fun destinations to explore. I love just flipping through the posts to get ideas of things to do on the weekend.

     So how do you find Facebook pages and groups that are a good fit for you? Start by using the search function and putting in your installation followed by spouses. A quick search for Fort Stewart Spouses turned up 5 groups as well as the installation’s official Facebook page and the MWR page. Once you join one then Facebook will suggest additional options. Another way is to ask your fellow spouses who live in the area.    

     A caveat, when using Facebook make sure to monitor your settings to ensure your account is private. When using groups or pages pertaining to the military use private or secret groups that vet their members. Remember OPSEC. Just use good common sense, if you want to meet someone you haven’t met before use caution and meet in a public place. Consider meeting at a location on your installation, then you know they have been vetted to have access to the base.

     Facebook is a great resource for military spouses.  How have you used Facebook to navigate this crazy life we lead?    

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

National Nutrition Month

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         19-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              March 7, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

National Nutrition Month

Commissaries have resources to help patrons

improve their health, wellness at dinner table

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

Note: See videos on DeCA’s YouTube page related to better nutrition: Dairy foods: finding the right fit; Whole grains: why you need them and where to find them; Whole grains: what to look for on the label; Healthy fats: fitting fat into your diet; Fruits and veggies: find what works for you; Fruits and veggies: are you getting enough?; and Protein: the source that’s right for you. Also see photos on the agency’s Flickr site.

FORT LEE, Va. – During National Nutrition Month in March, make a point to get acquainted with all the resources the Defense Commissary Agency has designed to help you improve the nutrition quality of your diet.

“Whether trying to boost your performance nutrition, lose weight or improve overall health, the Nutrition Guide Program (NGP) at your local commissary can assist you in building a healthy eating pattern, “said DeCA’s Health and Wellness Program Manager Deborah Harris, MPH, RD, CDE (Masters of Public Health, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator). “Build your basket with mostly fresh produce, lean meats, heart healthy fats from fish, nuts and seeds, avocados, etc., and use the NGP tags to shop the center of the store to match your health and wellness needs.”

The Nutrition Guide Program is designed in collaboration with dietitians throughout the Department of Defense, identifying nutritious foods with color-coded shelf tags and a thumbs-up icon that indicates high nutrition quality and high performance food.

The program’s color-coded shelf labels point out items with key nutrient attributes – dark blue for low sodium, brown for whole grain, purple for no sugar added, light blue for low fat and golden yellow for good source of fiber. There’s also green for the lifestyle choice of USDA-certified organic.

“Thinking Outside the Box” recipes on commissaries.com offer quick and economical solutions to help our busy patrons prepare nutritious meals at home. These dietitian-approved recipes are easy to prepare, help promote nutrition education and feature ingredients offered at significant savings at your commissary. Be sure to check the sales flyer for the current Thinking Outside the Box recipe which is on sale for additional savings. A quick “Dietitian Approved” meal planner with links to the family-friendly, dietitian approved recipes featured on commissaries.com will help make your meal planning even easier.

Look for the new “Your Commissary Recipe” poster display now at your store. A dietitian-approved recipe poster highlights a display of all the ingredients you will need to make a nutritious, home-cooked meal at significant savings. Grab the ingredients you need, pull out your phone and take a snapshot of the poster, then you will have all you need to make a nutritious meal at home.

“We understand how important readiness and resilience is to our military community so we strive to offer high performance foods and easy-to-use, quick solutions and resources to ensure our patrons meet their health and wellness needs,” Harris said.

-DeCA-

***This article originally appeared on www.commissaries.com***

Scholarships for Military Children Entries Due Soon

By


NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         06-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 25, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Application deadline Feb. 15

Scholarships for Military Children entries due soon

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page related to Scholarships for Military Children, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJrphCfYBY

FORT LEE, Va. – Students should be finishing up their preparations to apply for one of the 500 available $2000 Fisher House Foundation Scholarships for Military Children, as the deadline is approaching. Applications are being accepted through Friday, Feb. 15.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in 2001 to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force, and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. The program is administered by Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families.

This year is the first in which the entire application process is online, said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House vice president. “We are excited with the initial results from the online application process. We can track, in real time, the number of applications started and completed at each commissary.  We are on target for another highly competitive selection year.”

Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

Among requirements of the application process is providing a short essay. This year’s request is military lifestyle-related: “Please cite two examples of how being a child of a military service member has influenced your educational goals.”

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions and the application are available at MilitaryScholar.org.

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

Students enter brief background information and educational goals and the search tool will identify military-affiliated scholarships they may be eligible for based on their input. Once the search is complete, students receive a list of scholarships with a summary of eligibility requirements, points of contact and links to the scholarship provider’s website. Students can elect to have a PDF file of the results immediately emailed to them for use in selecting which scholarships to apply for.

The Scholarships for Military Children program is managed by Scholarship Managers, a national, nonprofit organization. If students have questions about the scholarship program application, they should call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them to militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com.

No government funds are used to support the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Commissary vendors, manufacturers, brokers, suppliers and the general public donate money to fund the program.

-DeCA-

Scholarships for Military Children

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         86-18                                                                                                                        

Date:                              November 29, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Scholarships for Military Children

Dec. 14 start date for new applications; process all online

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page related to Scholarships for Military Children, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJrphCfYBY.

FORT LEE, Va. – The Scholarships for Military Children Program for school year 2019 – 2020 kicks off Dec. 14, and continues accepting applications through Feb. 15.

This marks the first time the entry process will happen entirely online according to Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House vice president. “It will be simple to create an account, save your work and submit your application when finalized,” he explained. “The online process will make it easier for military children to reach their education goals.”

The program, entering its 19th year, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissary’s role in enhancing military quality of life. It’s administered by Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps service members and their families. Thus far, the program has awarded more than $18 million to 10,814 students.

Selection qualifications are straightforward. Requirements include completing the application; submission of the student’s official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or college transcript indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

For scholarship year 2019-20, Fisher House Foundation will award 500 scholarship grants of $2,000 each. The selection process will begin immediately following receipt of all applications in February.

“It will be exciting to see the increase in the applications with the new online submission,” said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships program liaison. “I believe online submissions will attract more potential recipients as this method is right in line with the way many students attend classes, complete school work, and live their everyday lives.”

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military Children website.

Fisher House also recently added an additional custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

-DeCA-

Celebrating Military Families: In November Commissaries Recognize Uniqueness, Sacrifices of Service Lifestyle

By

 

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         74-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              October 25, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Celebrating military families

In November, commissaries recognize uniqueness, sacrifices of service lifestyle

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Military life is not easy on families. Theirs is an ever-changing environment brought on by continuous military moves. It means frequent extended absences of a spouse.

For Lisa Molinari, who writes the military family blog “The Meat and Potatoes of Life,” it meant difficulties maintaining a legal career with such a transient lifestyle – 11 moves within eight different locations. It also meant caring for a special needs son while in duty stations with limited services.

“It’s the little things and frankly, when someone tells my husband – or even me – ‘Thank you for your service,’ this means so much more than one might expect,” said Lisa Molinari, a long-time Navy spouse.

“We know the challenges of a 28-year military career, so when someone acknowledges that a military family has made sacrifices to serve the country, it is very meaningful and appreciated.”

During November’s celebration of Military Family Month, the Defense Commissary Agency offers its thanks in acknowledgement of all those emotional goodbyes, transitions and sacrifices that are part of military service life, said Defense Commissary Agency Deputy Director Michael Dowling.

“We are proud to serve our resilient military families, understanding the stresses they endure,” Dowling said. “Striving to provide a valuable benefit, we work hard every day to say thank you by bringing a feeling of home to our military families no matter where in the world they may be.”

Commissary support goes far to inject a sense of normalcy in the unusual situations that military families face wherever they’re stationed, Molinari said.

“With all the instability of military life due to frequent changes in location, schools and homes, commissaries provided a bit of consistency that was always comforting,” said Molinari.

“No matter where we lived,” she added, “I was able to shop at a commissary and not feel lost – I knew the routine, I knew the products, I knew the prices and I knew that someone would always bag my groceries for me. Sometimes it’s the little things that keep a military spouse from going crazy.”

Anyone, even those not military affiliated, can give a military family the feeling of home by sending them a commissary gift card offered for purchase by authorized patrons at every store worldwide and by anyone online at commissaries.com.

-DeCA-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Handle Deployment When You Have Children

By

Being a military child can be very challenging. The deployment stage can be a difficult transition for them, which sometimes, may last a lifetime. But, through this unfortunate period, it’s not impossible for a child to be okay.

You might be wondering:

What are the ways I could prepare my child when the time comes?

Will they get used to it? Ever?

What will happen when my partner comes back?

It’s very important to remember that both children and parents need to work on this transition together. In this article, we’re breaking down the deployment transition at different ages.

Babies and Toddlers
Babies and Toddlers are quite young to comprehend this transition. Yet, they do feel things. So, here are some important points to bear in mind.
Babies
Dealing with babies can be a bit tough. If the deployment happens during their infancy, then there’ll be concerns about how the baby will adjust to the parent when they come back home.

Fear not, here are a couple of things you can do to prepare them while your partner is deployed:

● Photographs:
Show your baby photos of the absent parent. You can hang them around the baby’s room.
● Audio Clips:
Play recorded audio clips of their dad. They’ll be acquainted with his voice.
● Video Calls:
Use the internet! Skype! Seeing and hearing their dad/mom’s face and voice may affect the baby far more than you think.
● Scent:
Wrap your baby around with their absent parent’s clothes. Let your baby get used to the scent.

Even though babies are too young to process deployment, however, they’ll still notice the absence of one of their parents. Babies can feel their parent’s stress and anxiety.

They become ten times crankier when they sense it. So, it’s supremely important you stay calm and take good care of yourself first.

Toddlers
Toddlers can be a handful even if there is no deployed parent in the picture. It shouldn’t be too hard to imagine how they will behave when the parent IS deployed.

Unlike babies, toddlers can understand and remember things. They might not understand exactly what deployment is, but they’ll realize the absence of one of their parents. It’s a difficult conversation to have with a toddler.

It’s essential to sit with them before the deployment. Being in touch with them is also very important.

They need to be reassured that their deployed parent loves them immensely and will come back soon. Video calls, photographs, and messages go a long way for toddlers as well.

Kindergarten
A kindergarten going military kid can be a different type of challenge to handle altogether. At this age, kids usually already have formed an attachment with their deployed parent.

It can be stressful for the parent staying behind. Having to play the role of an absent father/mother is no mean feat.

All the special games they might have played together, all the secrets shared, and the behavioral patterns they have associated with the absent parent can be a lot to take in.

Thus, have a one-on-one with your child. Explain to them as clearly as possible that this is a temporary phase and that their deployed parent will be back. Encourage them to stay connected.

Here are a few ways that can be done:

● Letters or Emails – Encourage them to write a letter to their dad/mom. Help them type up an email if they can process it.

● Performance charts – Make a chart listing all their achievements. It can be a little achievement like playing a new game, learning to swim, etc.

It’s a knotty situation to be in. Disciplining them can be complicated, especially when they’re testing your patience. They’ll often be unruly and rebellious at this age.

Kids act out when they are unable to express themselves properly. Having your partner be active throughout the deployment stage can help your kids be more compliant.

Plan with your partner to send occasional gifts to keep the kids in line. It’ll be an incentive for them to be in their best behavior.

School Going Kids
School going kids know what deployment is. It’s likely they’ll friends whose parents are also being deployed. So they’ll have a mutual understanding of the situation.

For your kids to understand what deployment is wins you half the battle. The best thing you both can do is be open to your children. It’s vital you and your partner do this before and also during the stages of deployment.

The goal here is to make your children understand that you’re cooperating as much as you can. They need your support and love to work through this.

Be their rock during these tough times and try to answer whatever questions they throw at you as gently and as patiently as possible. Be honest about who their dad or mom is, what they do, where he/she might be, and why.

At this age, kids follow routines comfortably. Keeping the environment just as it was during the pre-deployment days can pacify the matter.

Let them do what they normally did and try not to change anything too much. It helps them have a healthier mindset and less bitter towards you or their deployed parent.

Final Thoughts
It can be overwhelming for both father/mother and child after he comes home. Your child will want to spend time with him/her constantly. Let’s face it, parents need time to adjust as well.

Children, however, don’t really understand this. It’ll help to make a list of things they’ll want to do with the deployed parent after he/she gets back. They can both go over the list and choose what they’ll do that day. This will help them realize their parent’s effort and love.

The most important thing you need to remember is that communication is key. For this transition to work, it’s essential both parents participate together. Patience and a whole lot of faith go a long, long way.

*This is a guest post sent to Military Shoppers by Shawn R.

Author Bio:

Stepheny is a content writer at FeedFond. Being a military spouse and an aspiring author, her life is like a jagged graph
-full of ups and downs! To read more of her articles, visit Feedfond.com.

Stateside Commissaries Serve As Collection Points for Feds Feed Families 2018

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         56-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              August 16, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Feds Feed Families

Stateside commissaries serve as collection points

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

Note: To see photos related to Feds Feed Families, go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157670222779617

 

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Commissaries are again serving as common collection points for 2018’s Feds Feed Families campaign, which began Aug. 10 this year, and continues through Oct. 15 at participating stateside military installations.

During this campaign, participating installations help collect items most needed by food pantries and then donate them to area food banks. 2018 marks the ninth consecutive year commissaries have participated.

“It started with the local area food banks just in the D.C. area. It was only for them,” explained Randy Eller, chief of the Defense Commissary Agency’s U.S. distribution, equipment, property and recycling division. “The Pentagon and all those people would participate, and they would put out boxes so people would donate. They got us interested, and we took it from the capital area and put it in every commissary we have in the United States.”

Overall, the Department of Defense collected 2.6 million pounds of grocery items for donation last year.

“For their part, commissary employees and patrons collected 1.5 million pounds, or 60 percent of the total DOD donation,” said Eller. “DeCA’s 2017 total increased by 480,000 pounds from 2016. We’ve got it down to a fine art now. After you get past the first couple of times it’s pretty smooth, and the stores are used to doing it.”

Once the items have been collected, installation officials work with their commissary to deliver the items to local food banks.

The most-needed items for donations include:

  • Canned vegetables – low sodium, no salt
  • Canned fruits – in light syrup or its own juices
  • Canned proteins – tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter and beans
  • Soups – beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey or rice
  • Condiments – tomato-based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing or oils
  • Snacks – individually packed snacks, crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola and cereal bars, pretzels and sandwich crackers
  • Multigrain cereal
  • 100 percent juice – all sizes, including juice boxes
  • Grains – brown and white rice, oatmeal, bulgar, quinoa, couscous, pasta, and macaroni and cheese
  • Paper products and household items – paper towels, napkins and cleaning supplies
  • Hygiene items – diapers, deodorants (men and women), feminine products, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste and shampoo

For more information on this campaign, go to the United States Department of Agriculture website, www.usda.gov/fedsfeedfamilies.

-DeCA-

This article originally appeared on www.commissaries.com

 

Football Fans Can Use The Commissary for Big Game Menu

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         55-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              August 9, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Are you ready for some football?

Fans can use their commissary for big game menus

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

Note: To see photos related to savings for your football viewing menus, go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157669959165367.

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Football fans can get all they need for their tailgate menu or television snacks at extra savings at their commissary, said the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales.

“As the start of football season approaches, we want our patrons to know that their commissary has all the food they need at significant savings,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA’s sales director. “Our stores do a great job of displaying the items that fit their football-watching venues.”

Through the fall, commissaries will offer discounts beyond everyday savings on meat for the grill and barbecuing supplies like charcoal, fruit and vegetable platters, water, soft drinks, snacks, the ingredients for that special football family recipe, condiments, paper plates, cups, plastic cutlery and more.

“Before they even enter their store, our patrons can access commissaries.com to help them maximize their shopping experience,” Russ said. “Whether it’s our commissary brands, items listed in the Your Everyday Savings (YES!) program, digital coupons linked to the Commissary Rewards Card, featured discount items, sidewalk sales, the sales flyer, exclusive savings, coupons, they can get information right here.”

Commissary patrons can also check out “end-of-the-aisle” displays in the store for themed items with extra low pricing, Russ added.

Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers should check with their store manager or visit their store page to verify what’s available at their particular store. Here are a few areas to consider for commissary savings:

  • Commissary brands. From Aug. 20 to Sept. 9, your commissary is offering special savings on Freedom’s Choice cheese: string cheese, cheese sticks, sliced, singles and cream cheese. Your commissary now offers five commissary brand lines: Freedom’s Choice (food products such as water, flavored water enhancers, juices, powdered soft drinks, bag tea, condiments, peanut butter, rice and dry beans, flour and cooking spray), HomeBase (non-food products such as paper towels, garbage bags, aluminum foil, paper plates and cups), TopCare (healthcare and beauty supplies), TippyToes (baby food and products) and Full Circle Market (natural and organic products).
  • Your Everyday Savings. YES! items include popular brands of flavored iced teas, pasta, macaroni and cheese, Spam, yogurt, nutritional shakes, potato chips and other selected snack foods, apple juice, vegetable juice, coffee creamer, coffee, energy drinks, soup, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, avocadoes, paper towels and bottled water.
  • Commissary Rewards Cards. Manufacturers have provided digital coupons for patrons who want to skip clipping paper coupons and save even more on their commissary purchases. Click here for more information.
  • Featured items and sales flyers. Commissary patrons can click here for the latest featured items and sales flyers, offering them a gateway to items on sale, quick tips, recipes, meal solutions and more.

“The commissary is the best option for military members and their families to save significant money on the foods they enjoy as the watch their favorite football team,” Russ said. “It’s always worth the trip.”

-DeCA-

This article originally appeared on www.commissaries.com

Save Big For Next Picnic

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         51-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              July 19, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Save big for next picnic

Think about the commissary for the items on your outdoor menu

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Summer is here and spending time outdoors is high on the priority list. Enter the fresh-air, toes-in-the-grass, trees-in-the-breeze picnic. Mother Nature has provided the perfect atmosphere; your commissary can help you pack the perfect picnic.

“Packing that picnic basket full of delicious, creative foods found on the aisles of your commissary can be so stress-free that you can enjoy a picnic anytime,” said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales. “You can put together a nutritious and tasty outdoor spread with almost no effort at all.”

Picnic foods should be quick, easy to prepare, pack and eat. Here are a few ideas straight from the aisles of your commissary:

 Deli/Bakery

  • Breads, croissant, or pita
  • Ready-made salads- pasta, potato, veggie, coleslaw
  • Chicken or tuna salad for lettuce wraps
  • Assorted cheeses – try a new variety or pick up a spreadable cheese for crackers or bread
  • Order a party platter
  • Cookies, brownies, doughnuts or muffins
  • Large Italian bread and assorted deli meats and cheeses to make a shareable sandwich

Refrigeration aisle

  • Flavored yogurt for fruit dips
  • Flavored cream cheese for veggie dips
  • Hummus and pretzels
  • Boiled eggs

 

 

Produce

  • Sliced apples with caramel dip
  • Veggies & dip
  • Melon or fruit tray
  • Fruit kebabs with dip
  • Whole fruit like apples, grapes, strawberries or clementines
  • Sushi

 

 

Meats

  • Pre-made hamburger patties and hot dogs for the grill
  • Rotisserie chicken
  • Shrimp with cocktail sauce

 

 

Grocery Aisles

  • Chocolate
  • Crackers
  • Chips or popcorn
  • Paper products and utensils
  • Resealable bags and food storage containers
  • Bottled water
  • Water flavor enhancers
  • Packaged juice drinks or tea
  • Fruit snacks or trail mix
  • Waffle cones to fill with fruit
  • Peanut butter and tortillas for PB and banana roll ups
  • Vienna sausage
  • Pickles, olives or peppers
  • S’mores fixings
  • First aid items
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant
  • Citronella candles and lighter
  • Bag of ice

Frozen Foods

  • Frozen fruit – doubles as an ice pack for your cooler
  • Chicken fingers
  • Prepared whip cream for dipping fruit
  • Thaw & serve pie

 

 

Patrons can save even more on some of these items under the commissary brand categories, where there are reduced prices on trash bags of various sizes, disposable bowls, foam and plastic plates, paper towels, bottled waters, shelf stable juices, water enhancers and powdered soft drinks, canned vegetables and shredded cheeses.

“The perfect picnic, whether you decide to get everything ready-made, put it together yourself or a combination of the two, is as close as your local commissary,” Russ said. “Then find a beautiful spot, spread out your blanket enjoy a stress-free afternoon.”

-DeCA-

 

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

 

 

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit

COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit www.commissaries.com to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what’s on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA’s Your Action Line and more.

 

COMMISSARY CONNECTION E-NEWSLETTER: Stay connected with the latest news about your most valued benefit, Hot Links to additional savings, shopping sprees, contests, commissary promotions, events and more, go to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm and subscribe to the Commissary Connection newsletter.

 

COMMISSARY CONNECTION BLOG: To see regular posts about topics of interest to commissary customers, including commissary news, human interest stories, shopping tips, videos and notifications about programs or events, go to http://commissaryconnection.dodlive.mil/. You can also subscribe to this forum by going to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm.

 

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA’s Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

 

YOUTUBE: To see DeCA’s latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary.

 

TWITTER: To see DeCA’s latest “tweets,” visit www.twitter.com/YourCommissary.

 

PINTEREST: To see DeCA’s theme-based image collections, visit http://www.pinterest.com/YourCommissary.

 

FLICKR: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/.

 

INSTAGRAM: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit https://www.instagram.com/YourCommissary/.

Article originally published on www.commissaries.com

 

 

 

Scholarships for Military Children

By

 

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105

FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

 

 

Release Number:         50-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              July 19, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Scholarships for Military Children

700 students receive grants for 2017/2018; application process to be web-based for next season

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 Note: To see a video related to the scholarship program on DeCA’s YouTube site, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJrphCfYBY

For photos, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157671315890358.

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Seven hundred students from military families each received a $2,000 scholarship this year, thanks to the 2018 Scholarships for Military Children program.

The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissary’s role in enhancing military quality of life. It’s administered by Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families.

“This year, we ended with fewer applicants than last year,” said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships program liaison. “However the quality of the applications submitted really exceeded prior years’ submissions.”

Qualifying to be considered for selection for one of the scholarship grants is straightforward. Requirements include completing the application; submission of the student’s official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or college transcript indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

While in years past application packages were delivered through the mail or by package delivery service, going forward the process will be entirely web-based, according to Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House vice president.

“The program has now completed its 18th year, and in those 18 years, we have been able to award scholarship grants of more than $18 million to nearly 11,000 military children,” he said.  “For year 19 and beyond, we plan to have the entire program web-based, totally eliminating paper applications and supporting documents.  The system has been tested and refined and will be ready to roll-out in December.”

Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military children website, as is the full list of this year’s winners.

Fisher House also recently added an additional custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

“The window to apply for the 2018-2019 Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children will open in December and close in February, but the exact dates have not yet been determined” said Dobson. “Be sure to check the scholarship page in mid-December for the opening of the 2018-2019 program.”

-DeCA-

 

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

 

 

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit

COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit www.commissaries.com to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what’s on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA’s Your Action Line and more.

 

COMMISSARY CONNECTION E-NEWSLETTER: Stay connected with the latest news about your most valued benefit, Hot Links to additional savings, shopping sprees, contests, commissary promotions, events and more, go to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm and subscribe to the Commissary Connection newsletter.

 

COMMISSARY CONNECTION BLOG: To see regular posts about topics of interest to commissary customers, including commissary news, human interest stories, shopping tips, videos and notifications about programs or events, go to http://commissaryconnection.dodlive.mil/. You can also subscribe to this forum by going to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm.

 

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA’s Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

 

YOUTUBE: To see DeCA’s latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary.

 

TWITTER: To see DeCA’s latest “tweets,” visit www.twitter.com/YourCommissary.

 

PINTEREST: To see DeCA’s theme-based image collections, visit http://www.pinterest.com/YourCommissary.

 

FLICKR: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/.

 

INSTAGRAM: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit https://www.instagram.com/YourCommissary/.

 

Article originally published on www.commissaries.com