As legions of backyard chefs take the covers off their barbecue grills, they’re reminded to use their commissary benefit for significant savings on their meats and other grilling needs.

June is a time to honor fathers, the flag and the Army’s 244th birthday. The month is also jam-packed with hot savings events for commissary patrons such as Healthy Lifestyle Festivals and sales promotions to help them prepare for their July 4th celebrations and more.

When a bad storm approaches, there are two types of people: those who are prepared and those who aren’t. Commissary patrons can choose to be ready and use their commissary benefit to purchase emergency supplies, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal, the Defense Commissary Agency’s senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director.

The Defense Commissary Agency’s popular online shopping/curbside pickup service known as CLICK2GO became available to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, shoppers June 3.

The United States Army marks its 244th anniversary on June 14. The history of commissaries and the military actually go hand in hand. It’s a relationship that lives on today with the Defense Commissary Agency as 77 of its stores operate on Army installations serving active duty soldiers, Army Reservists and National Guardsmen, and Army retirees and their family members.

This summer boys and girls in 11 military communities will be able to enjoy a football ProCamp event with a “Heroic, Resilient, Courageous” theme thanks to groceries sold in their commissaries.

When it comes to public health and safety in military commissaries, the Department of Defense has unique standards to match the stores’ special patronage – the men and women serving in uniform and their families. It’s those standards that set commissaries apart from commercial grocers, said Army Col. Alisa R. Wilma, the Defense Commissary Agency’s former director of public health and safety.

Army Lt. Col. Angela M. Parham is the Defense Commissary Agency’s new director of public health and safety, announced Rogers E. Campbell, executive director of DeCA’s Store Operations Group.

Commissary patrons who participated in a recent magazine survey rated their stores among the best grocery retailers in America when it came to cleanliness.

As the mercury rises, summer temperatures call you outside to enjoy the sun, family, food and fun. For all those July barbecues, picnics, watermelon and ice cream, there’s no better place to save than the commissary.