CELEBRATING 33 YEARS: Since Oct. 1, 1991, commissaries have delivered patron savings on groceries to military members and their families

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. - As far as Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Director and CEO John Hall is concerned, if you're not constantly evolving, you risk being irrelevant.

That's the mindset he continues to push at DeCA as the agency observes its 33rd anniversary on Oct. 1. For Hall, the milestone is a moment to reflect on how DeCA will continue improving its delivery of the commissary benefit to millions of eligible service members and their families.

"Over the years, DeCA has successfully navigated the waves of change," Hall said. "The Department of Defense itself is also constantly transforming, and to continue delivering the commissary benefit effectively to a new generation of service members and their families, we must stay ahead of new technology, trends, and methods of operating."

One significant change that impacted commissaries occurred on Jan. 1, 2020, when the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act extended the benefit to all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and primary veteran caregivers.

"Many of our disabled veterans still aren't fully aware of this benefit, so we are working with veteran and military support organizations to ensure they are aware of their eligibility to shop the commissary," Hall said. "Whether they've shopped when they were in uniform, or are first-time shoppers, we want them to know they can use the overall patron savings of 25% and the excellent customer experience associated with this benefit that can amount to $4,000 a year for a family of four if they routinely shop at one of our commissaries."

Whatever the change, DeCA has been on a consistent path of evolution since Oct. 1, 1991, when the agency took over responsibilities for providing the commissary benefit to all military beneficiaries.

Before DeCA, each service ran its own commissary operations. In the early days of military commissaries, customers handed a list to a clerk behind the counter who filled the list for them. By the 1930s many commissaries were being run in the same fashion as civilian grocery stores. During those days some commissaries were even offering home delivery service for families residing on post.

During World War II, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps helped to supply each of the armed services' commissaries, and by 1948 each service ran its own commissaries with differing procedures and systems. The Army ran the Army Troop Support Agency (TSA), the Navy ran the Navy Resale System Support Office (NAVRESSO), and the Air Force operated the Air Force Commissary Service (AFCOMS). In the early 1970s, the Marine Corps Services Commissary Branch would operate their stores.

In 1989, after decades of separate services running commissaries, Congress directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a study of the separate military commissary systems under the leadership of Army Lt. Gen. Donald E. Jones. The ensuing report by the Jones Commission suggested consolidating the separate service systems into one agency to improve service and save money.

As a result, 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.

On Sept. 27, 1991, both TSA and AFCOMS held deactivation ceremonies. The Navy gave up its commissary functions and became the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM.)

Three days later on Sept. 30, the DeCA activation and building dedication ceremony took place at its new headquarters - TSA's former headquarters building - on then Fort Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams). The agency's official activation wouldn't occur until Oct. 1 at which time DeCA assumed full control of all military commissaries.

Much of what was done in 1991 has been improved over time as DeCA embraces new and emerging methods and technologies.

Commissaries today boast conveniences like online ordering/curbside pickup services, self-checkouts, digital coupons, dietitian-approved resources to identify healthy foods, sushi bars, hot foods, deli-bakeries, credit and debit card acceptance, gift certificates and much more. Also, the ongoing evolution of the commissary business model with variable pricing has made store brand items possible.

As DeCA observes another birthday, Hall said the agency will continue evolving commissaries into the future.

"With all the ongoing and future initiatives we have to improve the benefit, we have no choice but to bring our best effort to successfully provide the savings on groceries that our patrons need," Hall said. "This is why we exist."

-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.