Official Site of the U.S. Air Force   Right Corner Banner
Join the Air Force

News > Food transformation program adds seven bases
 
Related Links
 U.S. Air Force Services
 
Related Biographies
 BRIGADIER GENERAL EDEN J. MURRIE
Food transformation program adds seven bases

Posted 4/6/2012 Email story   Print story

    


by Eric M. Grill
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs


4/6/2012 - SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Airmen at seven installations will see a new era in food service operations in October as the Air Force Food Transformation Initiative expands.

FTI is a pilot program designed to provide Airmen with improved food quality, variety and availability, while maintaining home station and warfighting feeding capabilities.

The additional locations are Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Dyess AFB, Texas; Barksdale AFB, La.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Beale AFB, Calif.; and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. FTI was first introduced in 2010 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; MacDill AFB, Fla.; Patrick AFB, Fla.; and Travis AFB, Calif.

"The food transformation efforts continue to be a top Air Force priority," said Brig. Gen. Eden Murrie, the Air Force Services director. "A customer satisfaction rating of 75 over the last year at the six food-transformation installations as compared to 67 at others indicates we are on the right path, and we will strive for continued improvement."

Test successes at the first six installations include expanded dining facility operating hours, increased food variety and quality, campus-style dining that allows Airmen on meal cards to eat at other nonappropriated fund food and beverage operations, and access to food kiosks called Provisions On Demand, a proprietary trademark food service operation.

Another indicator of success, Murrie said, is that the Air Force served an additional 561,000 customers and provided 139,000 more meals to junior enlisted members at food-transformation installations as compared to the previous year.

At the initial test locations, FTI included renovating the installations' dining facilities to further enhance food delivery. Instead of traditional cafeteria-style serving lines, the renovations added serving stations such as salads, sandwiches and pizza, allowing customers to proceed directly to their station of choice. An addition of exhibition style cooking stations at several locations also provides made-to-order, nutritious menu entrees, which emphasizes healthy dining options.

The new FTI locations will implement branded and themed concepts at nonappropriated fund food and beverage operations at existing enlisted and collocated clubs, bowling centers and golf course snack bars.

"FTI is designed to meet Airmen's desire for more menu variety and increased operating hours, while executing sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars," said George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief. "The initiative focuses on building efficient and operationally sound methods to feed Airmen."

The Air Force will continue to adjust to changing lifestyles, needs and preferences through improved efficiency and reducing costs, Miller said.

For more information about FTI and other Air Force Services Agency programs geared toward taking care of Airmen and their families, visit www.usafservices.com.  

(Erin Tindell contributed to this story.)



tabComments
12/25/2012 7:06:46 PM ET
The Iditarod Dining Facility was just fine the way it was before this FTI business started. The civilian and military cooks were accustomed to having an orderly arrangement of how everything was prepared but Aramark turned it into the real world of food service and most can't handle the workload. Except for the contingency employees who work from the beginning to end of their shift like good little elves as opposed to the military and government cooks who prefer drama rather than hard work. This initiative happened because the government is broke and needs to profit from food sales so one of the largest and shadiest food contractors in the world was chosen Aramark
Jon, Alaska
 
4/15/2012 12:37:09 PM ET
@Dom what are you getting I typically eat at the Iditarod twice a day and pay less than 5 bucks per meal. An alternative for you is to go to Richardson. The Army charges a flat rate. IIRC it's still under 5 for all you can fit on your tray.
JS, JBER
 
4/12/2012 12:40:36 AM ET
I see a lot of talking about making the meals better and more available but the underlying problems that had previously existed with meals are still in place. The food has become much more expensive and the quality has deteriorated from was most already considered to be just barely tolerable. I noted the comments regarding the increase in meals served in the test bases it is not mentioned that the facility has opened to anyone who wants to dine there. Our facility is available to anyone who wants to buy the meal. Opening the doors to the public instead of only serving the military members always increases the amount of meals served. Opening new locatons to meal card holders is a great idea if they could actually afford to go there. Our dining facility got a great face lift and the hours are not too bad. One of the places our meal card holders can now dine is the Bowling center. Most patrons are not very pleased with the changes. The portion sizes have decreased while the cost h
Heather, Fairchild
 
4/9/2012 2:07:58 PM ET
Yes improved foods in the dining facility will improve moral but at what cost It is already as expensive or sometimes more expensive to eat at the dining facility for people without meal card. An average meal at the dining facility here will run between 6 and 10.
Dom, JBER
 
4/8/2012 9:09:37 PM ET
Any time you make improvements with food I believe you boost morale. When I was in Services several years ago it was a top priority to ensure a quality product with good service.
Rachel, WV
 
Add a comment

 Inside AF.mil

ima cornerSearch

tabSubscribe AF.MIL
tabMore HeadlinesRSS feed 
Air Force Week in Photos

Senior leaders testify on health of personnel programs

Through Airmen's Eyes: The walk toward flight  3

Affordability priority for F-35 program  4

Reservists ready for wildland fire season  1

Indonesian, U.S. forces practice humanitarian evacuation

Former Ellsworth wing commander honored

U.S.-Australia agreement promotes space situational awareness

Edwards completes tests to extend KC-135  8

VA launches hotline for health care, women veteran questions

Ramstein Airmen train with Romanian counterparts  2

Langley selected for 'better foods, better bodies' pilot

EPA recognizes Air Force renewable energy efforts  1

SecAF: Readiness, modernization in flux

tabCommentaryRSS feed 
Leadership not defined by shapes, sizes  1

The difficult discussion   1


Site Map      Contact Us     Questions     USA.gov     Security & Policy     No Fear Act     E-publishing