HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! On Dec. 20, commissaries honor Space Force’s 4th birthday

NOTE: To see a DeCA video related to this release, click here.

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – On Dec. 20, 2019, Congress established the U.S. Space Force within the Department of the Air Force.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is honored to deliver the commissary benefit to Space Force guardians and their family members, said Navy Master Chief Mario Rivers, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director.

“At DeCA, we are proud to celebrate Space Force’s fourth anniversary, and want our eligible customers in that service to know we celebrate them every day by delivering the commissary benefit they’ve earned,” Rivers said. “Their commissary provides access to overall savings of at least 25 percent compared to prices at ‘outside the gate’ grocery stores – that means they save $50 on a $200 grocery bill.”

The creation of the U.S. Space Force resulted from widespread recognition that space was a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by competitors in space, it became clear that there was a need for a military service focused solely on pursuing superiority in the space domain.

As the United States’ critical infrastructure became increasingly dependent on satellites for communication, navigation, meteorology and intelligence, the Department of Defense identified a need for a branch of the military dedicated solely to operating and protecting these assets.

Space Force’s path to becoming a new branch of the armed services began with the Air Force, which established the Air Force Space Force Command on Sept. 1, 1982.

When Congress established Space Force in December 2019, it became the nation’s sixth service branch. The Space Force’s motto is “Semper Supra”, Latin for “Always Above”, a phrase that encapsulates the Space Force mission. Its symbol, the Delta, signifies the service’s responsibility and mission while honoring the long history that began long before Space Force was created. 

Today, the U.S. Space Force operates six dedicated Space Force bases, two of which host orbital launches for the service’s many satellites and spacecraft. They are:

• Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.
• Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California.
• Patrick Space Force Base near Satellite Beach, Florida.
• Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc, California.

Members of the Space Force may shop at any of the nearly 240 commissaries around the world.

All commissaries boast conveniences like Commissary CLICK2GO online ordering/curbside pickup services, a mobile app, a commissary sales flyer, self-checkouts, digital coupons, dietitian-approved resources to identify healthy foods, sushi bars, hot foods, deli-bakeries, credit and debit card acceptance, gift cards and much more.

“As the Space Force continues its legacy of service, we will keep providing guardians and their families – along with all of our eligible patrons – superior customer service and the items they want at the best possible savings,” Rivers said.

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees 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 covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.