It’s no secret that preparing meals at home benefits your health and your wallet. Between all our weekday obligations – work, school, commutes, sports and children – we shy away from home cooking. However, preparing delicious, nutritious meals at home does not have to hijack your schedule. Fast and easy no-fuss entrées are as close as your commissary and commissaries.com.

On Oct. 1, 1991, the Defense Commissary Agency officially took over the responsibility of providing the commissary benefit to U.S. military members and their families.

Throughout October, commissaries will offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Patrons are also advised to check their stores’ “end of the aisle” for themed items with extra low pricing. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers should check with their store for details or visit their store page to verify what’s available.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has announced its Best Commissary Award winners for 2018.
The awards are given in five categories, determined by store location and size, and are named in honor of government officials who protected the commissary benefit and championed quality-of-life issues for the military and their families.

On a rainy Monday morning, Rebecca Ingvalson shopped the Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Commissary, like she’d never shopped there before. She sat in the comfortably dry confines of her car with her three children while CLICK2GO workers loaded her vehicle with groceries under the shelter of the pickup awning. Sept. 30 marked the first day the store’s internet shopping, curbside pickup service began, and Ingvalson turned out to be the second customer to use it. She pulled up just as M.J. Jackson, husband of 1st Sgt. Lanestra Jackson who took part in an earlier CLICK2GO startup ceremony, departed with his groceries.

Military commissaries are highlighting energy-saving products during October as the Department of Defense observes National Energy Action Month.

Oct. 13 is the 244th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Navy by the Continental Congress in 1775. Since that day, the Navy has grown from 12 ships to become the world’s pre-eminent naval force. “The Defense Commissary Agency [DeCA] salutes the Navy on this important anniversary and acknowledges their legacy of distinguished service, valor and sacrifice during conflicts that date back to the American Revolution,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “As we celebrate their 244th birthday, we are proud to serve active duty, reserve and retired sailors and their families by delivering the commissary benefit they’ve earned.”

Christopher Carpenter, a commissary employee at the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, Commissary, received an Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award Oct. 3 in the Pentagon.

Since 1996, the month of November has been earmarked to honor the sacrifices of military families, serving on the “front lines” of supporting the careers of our nation’s service members.

We may turn our clocks back Nov. 3 when daylight saving time ends, but the savings continue as commissary promotions and events honor our veterans and provide more than enough for the gatherings of family and friends at Thanksgiving.