After 34 years of existence, DeCA continues its journey to improve the commissary benefit for the military community

NOTE: To see a DeCA video related to this release, click here.

FORT LEE, Va. -- When Service members and their families think of where they can go for their grocery needs, their local commissary should immediately come to mind: That's the message Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Director and CEO John Hall delivers.

"Our vision for DeCA continues to involve working toward being THE grocery provider of choice for our eligible patrons - delivering a vital benefit exclusively for our military community and their families," Hall said. "This is the cornerstone for our existence. It was true in 1991 when the agency started, and it's true today."

As DeCA observes its 34th anniversary on Oct. 1, Hall said the agency continues to improve its delivery of the commissary benefit to millions of eligible patrons. Commissary shoppers cannot help but notice recent innovations to DeCA's e-commerce platform reflecting improvements patrons expect in today's retail environment.

"We've enhanced our online ordering functions through our Commissary CLICK2GO® (CC2G) service by improving website navigation and search functions," Hall said. "We also improved CC2G's product information, added robust recipe ideas, featured sales and promotions, upgraded our customers' mobile-friendly experience, and last but definitely not least, we added online payment, perhaps our most significant enhancement."

"These and many other shopping improvements make shopping at the commissary the first and best option for our patrons' grocery needs."

Improving the commissary benefit has been the mission since DeCA first picked up the mantle to be the military's grocer provider.

After a 1989 Congressionally-mandated study of the separate military commissary systems the Defense Commissary Agency was established on May 15, 1990, by a memorandum from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Army Maj. Gen. John P. Dreska was named DeCA's first director in June 1990.

DeCA's creation was a significant step in modernizing the military commissary system, which has continued to evolve to offer more modern shopping experiences and services.

The agency's primary goal continues to provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver the commissary benefit, which helps improve the quality of life for military personnel and their families - something DeCA employees take personally, Hall said.

"Our employees have a sense of military community with over 63 percent of our workforce having a connection to the armed forces."

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees, disabled veterans and other authorized patrons 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 supports the costs of building, modernizing and sustaining commissary facilities. A core military family support element and valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military services and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.