Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Will Commissaries Be No-Cashier Stores in the Future?

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One afternoon I found myself on post with time to spare. After I grabbed a coffee and checked out the thrift store I wondered over to the commissary to pick up a few items.

We live 45 miles from post so my trips to the commissary are usually scheduled and mapped out to make the greatest use of my time and money. On this day I just happened in, deciding I would stroll through the aisles until something piqued my interest.

As I walked up and down the isles I noticed a larger than normal number of shoppers but it wasn’t until I attempted to check out that I realized my mistake.

It was payday. And as all military spouses know a visit to the commissary on payday can carry the same frenzy as shopping on Black Friday or Christmas Eve.

To help alleviate some of the frenzy DeCA is considering innovative technology that could put an end to long checkout lines.

DeCA Considers No-Cashier Store Technology

Recently Amazon launched, a first of its kind, no-cashier store in Seattle. Amazon Go allows customers with the app to select items and simply walk out.

The technology used can tell when items are removed from shelves and placed in your basket.The store uses cameras, the app and barcodes to monitor shoppers, charge accordingly and automate payment upon the shopper exit from the store.

Shortly after leaving the store, the app charges the customer’s Amazon account and emails the shopper his or her receipt.

DeCA is considering implementing similar technology in commissaries.

This concept could be a valuable time-saver for service members during the post-PT breakfast hour and lunchtime rush. Patrons can quickly select items and head back to work without waiting in long lines.

Busy parents would also benefit from a no-cashier shopping experience. They could quickly purchase last-minute dinner items, after-game snacks or cupcakes for a birthday party.

The no-cashier option is a wonderful alternative to traditional checkout lanes.

Instead of No-Cashier Stores, I Want Grocery Delivery Services

In my opinion, in addition to the no-cashier option, the commissary should consider grocery pickup and delivery services.

If they truly want to eliminate long checkout lines, eliminate the need for patrons to physically visit the store.

In my area, the big box stores offer grocery pick-up. This system allows shoppers to order weekly, monthly or daily supplies online, schedule a pick-up time and pay for items all from the comfort of their homes.

One downfall with this method (in my experience) is the pick-up times are never convenient.

They usually do not have pick-up times available the same day, so shoppers must order groceries a day or two in advance. This would be OK, except for those times when you need milk, bread and eggs in an hour and can’t make a trip to the store.

Related: Dear DeCA, Please Expand the Click2Go Program

My favorite option is grocery delivery. This is an amazing time-saver. I order groceries from the delivery app, select a delivery time, usually within an hour or two and pay for my purchase. Groceries arrive on time and I use my time to take care of more important things like catching up on work or relaxing with a good book.

Oh, did I mention, most services deliver wine too!

There is a fee associated with these delivery services, which I happily pay, considering it a convenience fee.

One downside to grocery delivery service is sometimes store sales and loyalty cards apply to the purchase. If you are an extreme couponer or on a tight budget this may not be best the option for you.

Time will tell if DeCA will decide to implement this technology and/or alternative processes to improve the shopping experience, but I believe they are moving in a positive direction by acknowledging issues and seeking alternative solutions.

If DeCA adopted a no-cashier technology, would you be more likely or less likely at shop at the commissaries?

Is Selling Liquor at the Commissary a Good Idea?

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Is selling liquor at the commissaries a good idea?

A study is currently being conducted to determine the feasibility of selling distilled spirits at the commissaries. At the end of July, 12 commissaries began selling beer and wine as part of a 90-day trial. So far, the trial has gone well.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) reported $70,658 in revenue from beer and wine sales by mid-August. That’s simply from 12 commissaries. When the trial ends, all commissaries will begin selling beer and wine.

DeCA does not need approval from the government to add distilled spirits to its shelves. That means you could be seeing liquor in the commissary in the near future.

Is Selling Liquor at the Commissary a Good Idea?

Alcohol abuse is common in the military. It isn’t just the service members that have a problem with alcohol. Military spouses do as well.

One of the reasons members of the Defense Department cited for wanting to add liquor to the sales floor was convenience. They said it was inconvenient for people to have to make multiple stops throughout their day to buy groceries and liquor.

Yes, it would certainly be more convenient to buy everything you need in one location.

The question though is, is selling liquor at the commissary a good idea?

If the commissary sells hard liquor, does the government become an enabler for service members abusing alcohol?

Problems stemming from the misuse of alcohol have cost the military greatly in terms of both money and productivity.

A study found that alcohol abuse costs the government $1.12 billion annually. That includes medical costs, the loss of 320,000 work days, 10,400 active duty service members becoming unable to deploy as well as 2,200 that separated from the military for alcohol-related reasons.

There are as many as 34,400 arrests each year of service members that involve alcohol.

These numbers are staggering.

Those on Capitol Hill said that of course the military does not condone excessive drinking and therefore, commissaries are not to glorify it. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, had this to say,

Like all other activities on the installation, the commissaries will fully support the department’s programs, policies, and procedures to deglamorize the use of alcohol and discourage its irresponsible use. To this end, the commissary stores will offer only a limited assortment of beer and wines, and will be prohibited from engaging in marketing practices that would glamorize the sale or use of alcoholic beverages.”

A lack of advertising isn’t going to prevent a service member or a family member from binge drinking. The military has not provided any information on the effects of having liquor readily available at commissaries.

Hopefully this feasibility study will include information about alcohol abuse and not just profit potential.

The proposal to sell liquor at commissaries should not necessarily only focus on the people that have a problem with alcohol. There are many patrons of the commissary that are responsible drinkers.

Should they be given the opportunity to purchase liquor in the commissary?

Would shoppers prefer to keep liquor in places such as Class Six stores?

That’s what the feasibility study is really about. The results of the study are expected to be delivered by the end of next month.

What do you think? Should the commissary sell liquor along with beer and wine?

Food Safety Education

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:         59-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              August 30, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Food Safety Education

September highlights awareness of foodborne illnesses

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page about tips to prevent foodborne illnesses, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueKEdQb8PbU.

 

FORT LEE, Va. – Keeping foodborne illnesses at bay is a constant job, one shared by retailers and consumers alike, Defense Commissary Agency officials say.

“Commissaries inspect the product pipeline, from the farm to the supplier to the store shelf,” said Col. Alisa R. Wilma, director of DeCA’s Public Health and Safety. “However, that responsibility doesn’t stop with our military veterinarians and store food safety specialists. Our patrons also have a responsibility to protect themselves from foodborne illnesses that could result from mishandling food.”

In observance of Food Safety Education Month in September, DeCA joins the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety Inspection Service, the Department of Health and Human Services and other organizations to help prevent foodborne illnesses by increasing awareness of improperly handling food items.

According to the CDC, each year an estimated one-in-six Americans get sick while 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses. The five most common illnesses are listeria, salmonella, E. coli, vibrio vulnificus and botulism.

“We preach the ‘Be Food Safe’ guidelines because they’re an easy tool for our patrons to use at home in reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses,” Wilma said. “You’d be surprised how many potential problems can be prevented just by washing your hands before, during and after handling food.”

The “Be Food Safe” message, developed by the CDC and the USDA, is simple: clean, separate, cook and chill. They are the basis for the following safe handling techniques:

 

Clean

        • Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat, poultry or seafood.
        • Wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to prepare the next item.
        • Food contact surfaces can be sanitized with a freshly made solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water.
        • Separate
  • Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods in your grocery shopping cart and in your refrigerator.
  • If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry and seafood.
  • Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood.

 

  • Cook
  • Cook poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 F as measured with a food thermometer.

 

  • Chill
  • Chill food promptly and properly. Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods and leftovers within two hours (or one hour if temperatures are above 90 F).“Preventing cross contamination is also very important,” she said. “That’s why patrons must keep different perishable foods separated, whether the groceries are in the shopping cart or in the car.”

 

  • A few more tips for handling food safely can be found at www.homefoodsafety.org:
  • Wilma said commissary patrons should always bring a cooler during a long trip to help prevent spoilage by maintaining proper temperatures of foods on the trip home.
  • Use hand sanitizer to wipe hands and the handle of the shopping cart.
  • Clean hands before sampling food. Either bring moist towelettes or carry a bottle of hand sanitizer to use before you taste.
  • If you use reusable grocery bags, wash them often.
  • Check food packages for holes, tears or openings. Frozen foods should be solid with no signs of thawing.
  • Check for a loose lid on jars whose seals seem tampered with or damaged. Report a defective cap to the store manager.
  • Avoid buying cans that are deeply dented, bulging, rusting or have a dent on either the top or side seam.
  • Use plastic bags to separate raw meat, poultry and seafood before placing them in your cart to avoid contaminating ready-to-eat foods like bread or produce.
  • When shopping, select perishable foods last before checkout and group them together.
  • Take groceries home immediately and store them right away. If on an extended trip, bring a cooler with chill packs for perishable foods. Perishable foods must be refrigerated within two hours and only one hour if it is over 90 F outside.
  • Keep perishable foods out of the hot trunk in summer and place in the air-conditioned car instead.

The DeCA website is a good resource for food safety. To find the latest food safety alerts and product recalls affecting military commissaries, visit the News Room on commissaries.com and select the box that says “Food Recall.”

For more on food safety awareness, go to the CDC website. Information on food handling techniques is also available at Eatright.org.

-DeCA-

 

 

 

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

Back to School Sidewalk Sales Coming to Our Commissaries

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Sadly, our summer vacation is coming to an end.

We will soon swap our lazy mornings for a fast-paced up and out the door routine. I guarantee there will be tears and resistance, and my kids aren’t too excited about the change either!

We can choose to spend our last days of summer sulking and wondering where the time went or we can head to our commissary and stock up on all the back to school essentials.

The Defense Commissary Agency announced the Back to School Sidewalk Sales beginning mid-August and running through September will take the place of the annual case lot sales. Don’t fret over the loss of the case lot sales, the Back to School sale offers savings on healthy family breakfasts, fresh-packed school lunches, after-school snacks, club pack items, cases of breakfast cereals, bottled water and much more.

Here is the list of Back to School Sidewalk Sale dates:

August Back to School Sidewalk Sale Dates

July 26-29

Patrick AFB

August 1-4

  • Key West NAS
  • Kingsville NAS
  • Schofield Barracks

August 1-3

Fort Rucker

August 1-5

Tyndall AFB

August 2-3

Air Force Academy

August 2-4

Charleston AFB

August 2-5

  • Fort Leavenworth
  • Kaneohe Bay MCBH
  • Quantico MCB

August 3-4

Fort Knox

August 10-11

  • Tobyhanna

August 13-16

  • Jacksonville NAS

August 14-16

  • Laughlin AFB

August 15-18

  • New River MCAS
  • Portsmouth NSY

August 15-19

  • Fort Hood – Clear Creek

August 16-18

  • Albany MCLB
  • Buckley AFB
  • Camp Merrill
  • Carlisle Barracks
  • Gunter AFB
  • New London

August 16-19

  • Anchorage Area
  • Barksdale AFB
  • Fort Belvoir
  • Fort Bragg North
  • Fort Myer
  • Imperial Beach
  • MacDill AFB
  • Smokey Point

August 17

  • Rota

August 17-18

  • Barstow MCLB
  • Bremerton NBK
  • Cairo
  • Chievres AB
  • Fort Gordon
  • Fort Hunter Liggett
  • Rock Island Arsenal
  • Shaw AFB
  • Sheppard AFB
  • Sigonella
  • Vogelweh

August 17-19

  • Annapolis NSA
  • Camp Casey
  • Cannon AFB
  • Charleston NWS
  • Edwards AFB
  • Eielson AFB
  • Forest Glen
  • Great Lakes NS
  • Hario Village
  • Kodiak
  • Lemoore NAS
  • McConnell AFB
  • Ord Community
  • Patch Barracks
  • Schinnen
  • Scott AFB
  • Selfridge ANGB
  • Vance AFB
  • White Sands
  • Yokota AB

August 17-20

  • Fort Riley

August 18

  • Ansbach
  • Lajes Field

August 18-19

  • Wiesbaden

August 18-20

  • Camp Zama

August 20-21

  • Dugway PG

August 21-22

  • Hohenfels

Aug. 23-25

  • Corpus Christi NAS
  • Crane NSA
  • Lakehurst NAES
  • Meridian NAS

August 23-26

  • Alconbury
  • JB Andrews AFB
  • Robins AFB

August 24

  • Mildenhall

August 24-25

  • Lakenheath

August 24-26

  • Aviano AB
  • Little Rock AFB
  • New Orleans NSA
  • Randolph AFB
  • Tinker AFB
  • Vicenza

August 24-27

  • K-16 Airfield Commissary

August 27-31

  • Hickam AFB

August 28-31

  • Beale AFB
  • Bolling AFB
  • Seymour Johnson AFB

August 28 – September 1

  • Fort Eustis
  • Parris Island MCRD

August 29 – September 1

  • Bridgeport MCMWTC
  • Fallon NAS
  • Fort Stewart
  • Offutt AFB

August 30-31

  • Pensacola NAS
  • Picatinny Arsenal

August 30 – September 1

  • Aberdeen PG
  • Arnold AFB
  • Baumholder
  • China Lake NAWS
  • Croughton
  • Fort Drum
  • Fort Greely
  • Fort Jackson
  • Fort Polk
  • Garmisch
  • Goodfellow AFB
  • Holloman AFB
  • Little Creek Navphibase
  • Maxwell AFB
  • McGuire AFB
  • Memphis NSA
  • Mitchel Field
  • Newport NS
  • Pittsburgh Area
  • Redstone Arsenal
  • Saratoga Springs
  • Whiting Field NAS

August 30 – September 2

  • Camp Lejeune MCB
  • Fort Lewis
  • Fort Sam Houston
  • Gulfport NCBC
  • Kirtland AFB
  • Kings Bay NSB
  • Keesler AFB
  • Lackland AFB
  • Luke AFB
  • Mayport NS
  • Richards-Gebaur
  • San Diego NB
  • Spangdahlem Air Base
  • Whidbey Island NAS

August 31 – September 1

  • Fort Lee
  • Peterson AFB
  • Sasebo
  • Yokosuka NFA

August 31 – September 2

  • Andersen AFB
  • Camp Foster MCB
  • Camp Kinser MCB
  • Camp Pendleton MCB
  • Chinhae
  • Daegu
  • Davis-Monthan AFB
  • Fort Campbell
  • Hill AFB
  • Harrison Village
  • Kadena AB
  • Los Angeles AFB
  • Moffett Field
  • Moody AFB
  • Norfolk NAVSTA
  • Osan AB
  • Portsmouth NNSY
  • Sagamihara
  • Vandenberg AFB

August 31 – September 3

  • Camp Carroll
  • Iwakuni MCAS

August 31 – September 4

  • March ARB

September Back to School Sidewalk Sales Dates

September 1-2

  • Dover AFB

September 3-6

  • Menwith Hill

September 4-7

  • Panzer Kaserne

September 5-6

  • Izmir

September 6-9

  • Bangor ANGB

September 7-8

  • Bangor NBK
  • Fort McCoy
  • Incirlik AB
  • Riyadh

September 7-9

  • Camp Humphreys
  • Fort Worth

September 8-9

  • Ankara
  • F. E. Warren AFB

Sept. 12-16

  • Columbus AFB

September 13

  • Kelley Barracks

September 13-15

  • Dahlgren NSF
  • Eglin AFB
  • Fort Benning
  • Fort Bragg South
  • Fort Sill
  • Malmstrom AFB
  • Wright-Patterson AFB

September 13-16

  • Dyess AFB
  • Ellsworth AFB
  • Fairchild AFB
  • Fort Bliss
  • McChord AFB
  • Miramar MCAS
  • Nellis AFB
  • North Island NAS
  • Travis AFB

September 14

  • Livorno
  • Rota

September 14-15

  • Patuxent River NAS
  • Vilseck
  • Whiteman AFB

September 14-16

  • Altus AFB
  • Atsugi NAF
  • Cherry Point MCAS
  • Fort Carson
  • Fort Hamilton
  • Fort Huachuca
  • Fort Leonard Wood
  • Fort Wainwright
  • Hanscom AFB
  • Kunsan AB
  • Minot AFB
  • Misawa AB
  • Naples NSA
  • Oceana NAS
  • Orote
  • Robinson Barracks
  • San Onofre
  • West Point
  • Yongsan

September 15-16

  • Camp Courtney MCB
  • Ramstein AB

September 20-23 

  • Fort Detrick

September 21-22

  • Grafenwoehr

September 24-27

  • Fort Irwin

September 27-29

  • Langley AFB
  • McClellan
  • Port Hueneme

September 27-30

  • Fort Hood – Warrior Way
  • Hurlburt Field

September 28-30

  • Fort Meade
  • Grand Forks AFB
  • Mountain Home AFB
  • Pearl Harbor

October 13-15

  • Twentynine Palms MCAGCC

October 12-13

  • Yuma PG

October 12-14

  • El Centro NAF

October 26-28

  • Yuma MCAS

In addition to the savings the Back to School Sidewalk Sales, participating commissaries will also be hosting sale events throughout August and some of these are pretty cool!

The first event is the Back to School Sweepstakes. Patrons can enter to win a $100 commissary or exchange gift cards or a $50 entertainment/restaurant gift card that can be used at AAFES theatres or exchange food malls. For full details and instructions on how to enter this sweepstakes, ask your local commissary manager.

The next event is the Box Tops for Education event taking place from August 6-19 at participating stores.

Cutting out box tops can be a pain, but schools can earn up to $20,000 a year from Box Tops.

What could your school do with an extra $20,000?

This promotion includes double box top value on several General Mills products, high-value coupons, in-store product demonstrations and decorative displays.

“Make this School Year a Success Story” is another event taking place August 6 to 19. This event sponsored by Kellogg’s and Scholastics offers discounted prices on Kellogg’s brand items and free Scholastic books. These free books would make a great addition to your child’s classroom library. For full details visit your local commissary.

This promotion doesn’t only save money but will provide a fun family outing. Back-to-school free movie ticket allows customers to earn a free movie ticket when they purchase seven name brand products in one transaction at participating commissaries between August 5 and September 5.

Brands include Gatorade, Entenmann’s, Oreo, Nabisco, Frito Lay, Planters, Capri Sun, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Hillshire Farm, (these are all lunch box staples) Aveeno, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, Centrum, Tums, Sensodyne, Aquafresh, Biotene, (great opportunity to stock up on personal hygiene products) Scott towels and Kleenex (these are a must-have for any classroom). For complete rules for the back-to-school free movie ticket, check out your local commissary.

The AXE “Back to School” Sweepstakes is perfect for parents of middle school and high school boys.

Visit the AXE shower gel, deodorant and hair care product displays in your local commissary from now through September 15 to enter to win a variety of prizes including commissary gift cards, Apple MacBooks, iPads, iPods and Apple gift cards. There will more than 90 prizes awarded.

Cheese is a great way for kids to get much-needed protein and dairy wrapped up in a healthy snack.  The Say “Cheese Please!” promotion offers savings on Freedom’s Choice cheese products. Stock up on all things cheese August 20 through September 9 at your local commissary.

If these great promotions and sales aren’t enough to soften the blow of the preparation for a new school year, DeCA’s industry partners will be offering additional discounts and themed items with low pricing. Be sure to check the end of the aisle for these discounted products.

Most of these promotions are offered worldwide however some overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers are encouraged to check with their store manager to confirm dates and promotions.

The start of a new school year is often met with a little anxiety, especially for our military children who experience the first day in a new school far too often.

By stocking up on school supplies, breakfasts must-haves, lunch box necessities and healthy afternoon snacks we can all step into the new school year prepared and ready for success.

Never miss a commissary special event by signing up for MilitaryShoppers newsletter and liking their Facebook page.

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

 

 

Readers: “DeCA Employees Didn’t Earned the Privilege”

By

DeCA employees were extended the benefit of shopping at military commissaries starting on June 30, 2018. This policy change sparked some serious debate among our MilitaryShoppers community!

There were readers on both sides of the debate.

Some felt very strongly that allowing commissary employees to shop where they work was common sense.

Others disagreed, saying that commissary benefits are a privilege earned through service to our country.

What Our Readers Said About the Policy Change for DeCA Employees

Former service member and current DeCA employee, David Shingleton thought that the move was fair.

“I went to work at DeCA in 2016 and served over eight years in the military and I am 40% service connected disabled,” Shingleton said. “I think being able to shop will help with employee morale and give us a sense of ownership. Many of us at DeCA are veterans that wish we could shop before being allowed to do it as a DeCA employee.”

Shingleton pointed out that exchange employees already have this controversial benefit.

He also said that he wants greater access to those who have served in the military but don’t qualify for commissary privileges.

“Purple Heart recipients, as well as service-connected disabled veterans regardless of rating, should be allowed to shop at commissaries and exchanges,” he said. “Not all will (shop at the commissaries); if they don’t live near a base, it’s not like it will over-run the system and drive up costs like some say.”

George Page agreed with Shingleton. He offered a suggestion to those who disagree with the new policy.

“If you don’t want workers to have the same benefits then restrict the hiring to those that have the same privilege,” Page stated. “I’m an Army vet, 8.5 yrs (service), worked for DeCA off (and) on since the ’80s. Never got to shop there but rules (are) rules.”

Commissary Benefits Extended to DeCA Employees, Not Their Families or Commissary Baggers

There are nearly 14,000 commissary employees worldwide. Approximately 50% are already qualified to shop at the commissary as military dependents or retired service members. This new policy affects the remaining 7,000 civilian employees. It does not apply to baggers, who are technically not employed by DeCA and only work for cash tips.

This new benefit applies only to DeCA employees, not their spouses or children. When they are no longer DeCA employees, they will no longer be able to shop at the commissary.

You can read all the comments about this policy change here.

Commissary employees will only be able to purchase groceries. They are not able to purchase tobacco or other controlled substances. As wine and beer begin to be sold at commissaries in the next 90 days, these products will also be off-limits.

The rationale behind this policy change was to give commissary employees more ownership in the stores where they work. It was also a logistical decision.

They work at a grocery store all day, but get off work and need to drive to a different store to pick up milk or eggs.

Readers Support Extending Commissary Privileges to Purple Heart Recipients

Perhaps restricting commissary employment to eligible shoppers might be a common point of agreement. Another idea was that shopping privileges be extended based on length of service.

“I think it should still be an earned privilege; a reward for say three or five years of employment,” explained Teresa. “Most of our store workers are well over that anyway, but I think they would agree. I also think that those with a service-related disability should have full privilege. It’s not like they decided to just quit (the military). My own family was lucky. (M)y hubby was over 20 years when he was injured so he was medically retired instead of discharged.”

Most commenters felt that extending privileges to commissary employees was unfair. Many readers feel that commissary shopping benefits are earned and shouldn’t be granted to non-eligible commissary employees.

“The PX and commissary privileges are just that. A privilege earned by service in the military,” James said. “It should be by, for, and exclusively military. By adding yet another group we are diluting this privilege.”

“If said employee has not earned that right to shop at the commissary, it should not be given,” said Karin. “It is a privilege, whether I earned it or I’m a dependent.”

Karin also suggested that disabled veterans and certain other groups should be granted access as a result of honorable military service.

“Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans, sure,” she said. “They have earned it, some by barely escaping that ultimate sacrifice.”

Do you agree with these commissary shoppers saying DeCA employees haven’t earned the privilege to shop where they work? We would love to hear your opinion. Please share it in the comments section.

Spreading the Word-YES! Begins to Catch on with Commissary Patrons

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:         49-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              July 12, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Spreading the word

YES! begins to catch on with commissary patrons

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

Note: To see customers discussing the YES! program, go on DeCA’s YouTube site for the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eEDwa3S84Y; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XvNn40uPZI; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KgLPv0M9WU;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnSwu09_Bho.

 

 

For an overall program video, go to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-I80u1Ja5M .

For photos, go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157669052988697 .

 

 

FORT LEE, Va. – For commissary patrons such as Alexis Bishop, the new “Your Everyday Savings!” (YES!) program makes a good deal even better.

“The YES! program is absolutely amazing,” said Bishop the spouse of a soldier assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia. “The prices compared to [stores off base] are – you cannot even compare – they’re amazing here.

“I know [the commissary] is doing the best that it can to provide for our military and for families. So, I want to thank you for what you’re doing [with] the YES! campaign because it is amazing.”

A few weeks after the Defense Commissary Agency’s June 1 launch of the YES! program, a number of patrons from the Fort Lee Commissary voiced their opinions of it. The program is designed to help make stateside commissaries more competitive with commercial retailers by consistently lowering prices on the items patrons purchase the most. Commercial retailers often lower prices on certain popular goods to attract consumers into their store where higher prices on other items await.

YES! items include popular brands of flavored iced teas, pasta, macaroni and cheese, canned meats, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, baby food, nutritional shakes, potato chips and other selected snack foods, various produce items that will rotate throughout the year, apple juice, vegetable juice, coffee creamer, coffee, energy drinks, soup, paper towels, toilet tissue, bottled water, dish soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, pet food and various rotating produce items.

Matching or beating the prices outside the gate is the value Chuck Mullins expects when he shops his commissary. “The YES, Your Everyday Savings, helps me when it comes to meeting the price points that the other stores have in town,” the retired Army NCO said. “When I come to the commissary, I expect and look for those better prices. And that’s what I find.”

It’s all about shopping for the best price, echoed retired Navy Lt. Bill Hines, and YES! checks that box for him. “It’s a wonderful program, and we still have to compare prices, which is what I do no matter what store I go into. But if I were to get that same low price every time I come in here [commissary] it would certainly entice me to shop here more.”

It appears that Hines isn’t alone. Through June 30, commissaries have seen a 22 percent bump in the unit volume of products bearing the YES! label over the previous month. They’ve also seen a 7 percent increase in customer transactions linked to item purchases over the previous month. These numbers do not include produce sales. Since June 1, among the top-ranked items for sales in the YES! program have been water, canned meat, bath tissue, coffee, potato chips, pet food, pasta and laundry detergent.

For patrons such as Army 2nd Lt. Jordan Huff, programs like YES! demonstrate the true value of the commissary benefit and deliver on the military’s promise to support its communities. “A program like this would really show me that the commissary cares,” he said. “It’s basically reaffirming that pledge that they made to service members, and I think we’ll really buy into it. It will be a really good program for us.”

Donna Arms, a family member, checked for the bright orange YES! shelf labels as she shopped with her family and politicked for more dog-related items to be in the program. She admitted that commissary prices were still better than anyplace else she shopped and the new price savings program helps so much when you’re stretching your paycheck.

“There are some awesome deals here,” Arms said. “It [the YES! program] is a better deal because people like me, who live paycheck to paycheck, we have to save pennies everywhere we can go.”

For more information on the program, go to the YES! web page under the “Shopping” link on www.commissaries.com.

-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/.