Legal Definitions - Defense Commissary Agency

The Defense Commissary Agency, often abbreviated as DeCA, is an organization within the United States Department of Defense. Its primary mission is to operate a worldwide system of commissaries that offer groceries and household goods to active-duty military personnel, retirees, and their eligible family members at significantly reduced prices. This benefit helps to enhance the quality of life and financial well-being of the military community by providing access to essential items at a lower cost than typical civilian supermarkets.

• Example 1: A young family with two children, where one parent is an active-duty Air Force sergeant, needs to buy weekly groceries. They visit their local commissary on base and purchase milk, bread, fresh produce, and diapers at prices considerably lower than those at stores outside the base, allowing them to stretch their budget further. This directly illustrates DeCA's role in providing essential goods at reduced prices to military families.

• Example 2: A retired Navy petty officer, now in their seventies, relies on a fixed income. They regularly shop at the commissary near their home, taking advantage of the discounted prices on pantry staples and personal care items. This demonstrates that DeCA's services extend beyond active-duty personnel to include eligible retirees, supporting their financial stability in retirement.

• Example 3: An Army captain is currently deployed overseas, and their spouse and children are living near a military installation in Germany. The spouse uses the commissary on the German base to buy food and household supplies for the family. This highlights DeCA's global reach, providing essential goods and services at reduced prices to military families stationed both domestically and internationally, ensuring consistent support regardless of location.