HAPPY BIRTHDAY! On Nov. 10, commissaries honor the Marine Corps’ 249 years of service

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FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. - On Nov. 10, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) will salute the U.S. Marine Corps on the 249th anniversary of its establishment by the Continental Congress in 1775.

"We salute the Marine Corps' anniversary, and we want all our Marines - active duty, reservists, retirees and their family members, as well as disabled veterans and their caregivers - to know we celebrate them every day by delivering the commissary benefit they've earned," said Navy Command Master Chief Mario S. Rivers, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. "We endeavor to provide the highest quality product at the lowest price possible to help our eligible patrons boost their financial and food security with at least 25 percent savings on their groceries."

Before the Marines established commissary operations in the early 1920s, they had to settle for whatever food was on the ships they embarked aboard.

In the 18th century, Marines and sailors on the warships were issued weekly rations that consisted of 3 pounds of salt pork, beef, or fish; a pound of dried peas; a pound of flour; a pound of coffee; a wad of tobacco and biscuits known as hardtack, a staple in their diets also known as ship's bread. The rations lacked nutritional value and flavor.

Shipboard Marines, as well as their sailor crewmates, also received a half pint of spirits each day, served under controlled conditions to help prevent drunkenness aboard ship.

One major challenge that faced Marines and sailors at sea was procuring fresh fruit and vegetables. When they pulled into port, the crew and embarked Marines would often times purchase goods from local vendors, however the fruit and vegetables began to rot within a couple of days of being on the ship.

Bumboat operators, vendors who peddled their provisions, sold a vast array of foods to the crews when they pulled into port including fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea, rum, tobacco and even baked goods. However, these vendors often charged exorbitant prices for their provisions and took full advantage of the fact that the Marines and sailors were desperate for these goods.

Congress, in an attempt to combat the bumboat operators, began establishing ships' stores aboard each ship in 1909. These became the first Navy commissaries long before its brick-and-mortar stores were created.

The Marine Corps eventually began establishing commissary sales stores in buildings that had once been used as warehouses. Customers entered through one door, showed their ID, approached the counter and gave a list to the clerk. The clerk filled the order with foods and goods from the shelves, a cashier rang up the order and the customer paid and exited through another door.

By the 1920s, self-service commissaries began to become popular. After World War II, there were just under two dozen Marine Corps commissaries.

On Oct. 1, 1991, DeCA assumed control of all U.S. military commissaries worldwide. Today, members of the Marine Corps community, as well as the other armed forces, may shop at any of DeCA's 235 commissaries. There are 17 commissaries at Marine Corps bases, including three in Okinawa and one on the mainland in Japan.

All of the commissaries offer modern conveniences such as ordering online and picking up groceries with Commissary CLICK2GO, self-checkout registers, digital coupons, sushi bars, hot foods, deli/bakeries, credit and debit card acceptance, gift cards and even dietitian-approved resources to help identify healthy food in the stores.

As the Marine Corps continues its mission as the nation's maritime land force, DeCA will continue to offer them superior customer service and the items they want for them and their families at the best possible savings.

"Marines and their families can access their benefit at any commissary," Rivers said. "By using their benefit, they can save thousands of dollars annually on their purchases in comparison to similar products at commercial stores.

"DeCA is committed to being THE grocery provider of choice for Marines and all our eligible patrons - soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardians and Coast Guardsmen - delivering an exclusive benefit they've earned."

-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.