DFACs serve thousands daily

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Airman 1st Class Jebree M. Hinton, 17th Training Wing Legal Office Military Justice paralegal, receives her grilled sandwich at the Cressman Dining Facility May 6. Hinton and some other permanent party personnel as well as students already have meals deducted from their pay, so they do not need to worry about paying at the checkout. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Joshua Edwards)

DFACs serve thousands daily

Published June 10, 2014
By Senior Airman Joshua D. Edwards
17th Training Wing Public Affairs

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A team of dining facility employees serve four meals a day to thousands of students and permanent party here, totaling approximately one million meals every year.

According to the Air Force Services Food Service mission statement, these employees work to ensure the DFACs provide wholesome and nutritious meals at all Force Support feeding operations, provide combat feeding at deployed locations; and bare base operations and maintain the Air Force Fit-to-Fight program.

Students and some junior enlisted members go to the DFAC without a need to pay, because the money is taken directly from their basic allowance for substance.

"The DFAC is vital to ensure our permanent party and students from all services get their meals," said Master Sgt. Christopher J. Norci, 17th Force Support Squadron first sergeant. "Additionally, eating regularly at the DFAC saves time, reducing the need for regular grocery shopping, preparation and cooking."

Without these prepaid meals students and select junior enlisted members would have to look elsewhere to find a meal, which could end cost more.

"If we didn't have a DFAC we'd need to have a lot more private industry here," said Manuel F. Fernandez, Cressman DFAC manager. "You're talking about four dollars per meal here, compared to a private sector where it'll be about seven dollars."

Some of the students here are grateful that they get to eat at an Air Force DFAC.

"This DFAC is good and definitely a lot better than the one I came from," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Logan R. Murdock, Marine Corps Detachment student, talking about the Cressman DFAC. "The options here are great. It's awesome that the employees put in the time that they do."

Although not all junior enlisted have the same high opinion about the DFAC, most view it as a positive.

"The Air Force needs them because they need to approach an all-around option," Senior Airman Patrick J. B. Eichamer, 17th Medical Group health service journeyman. "The Air Force can't expect every new Airman to know how to cook, shop, clean and eat healthy foods."

The DFACs are continuously trying to accommodate the customers and accepts comment cards to know how they can change or improve their menu. Get on in the checkout line and let them know how they are doing on the next visit to the DFAC.