Dining facility hours and PT

  • Published
  • By Col. Lawrence S. Reed
  • 48th Fighter Wing vice commander
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  

COMPLAINT:

I have a question about Lakenheath's and possibly Mildenhall's dining hours with regards to the new PT policy.

I work on Lakenheath but live closer to Mildenhall. The doc always says that nutrition and diet are just as important as exercise and as an E6 with junior leadership/management responsibilities, time management is my greatest challenge daily. I don't always get to handle my obligations when and how I want to but I am a pretty good organizer.

It is important that I complement my daily exercise regimen with proper meals, especially when I don't get to exercise always when and how I want to. The gym hours are fairly reasonable. However, the Knights' Table hours could be questioned as they are very strict. Once I get out the gym in the morning from mandatory PT, breakfast is over and that is the most important meal of the day. I believe the dining facility offers the best selection of meals that coincide with a balanced diet. So do you think that it would be in the best interest of Lakenheath and even USAFE and MAJCOM's beyond to reconsider dining facility hours to coincide with the new PT initiative to offer maximum accommodation for all Airmen towards achieving their fitness goals?

Are flexible hours and diversity the reason why the success rate of nutrition and exercise in our deployed AOR is better?

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your inquiry on this important topic; I applaud your interest in a healthy lifestyle. Per AFI 34-239, the dining facility hours are designed for mission needs. Our primary customers are meal card holders. The Air Force operates Appropriated Fund enlisted dining facilities to provide subsistence entitlements to enlisted members residing in dormitories, provide a training environment for food service personnel, and provide flight meal service in support of wing operations.

While we try very hard to satisfy everyone's unique needs, it is important to note that our food service professionals devote a great deal of time determining how to please the largest percentage without sacrificing quality or efficiency. With that said, operating hours are ultimately based on the wing's mission requirements. Current breakfast hours are 0600-0800 at the Knights' Table Dining Facility and 0530-0800 at the 48th Street Café. When determining hours of operation, the length of each meal period is examined while taking into consideration meal preparation time, facility sanitation, and U.S. civilian and MOD personnel labor costs. Based on these factors, the current hours are determined to be the most effective.

However, the Knights' Table dining facility does offer Ground Support Meals for those individuals that can't make it to the facilities during operating hours. In keeping with the emphasis on healthy eating, our Food Services personnel offer a great selection of healthy choices in our ground support meals and have also now expanded their "Grab and Go" selection.

We appreciate hearing comments and concerns from our customers and as a representative of your Airman I'd like to invite you to the Dining Facilities food forum which is held on a quarterly basis. This is where individuals like yourself sit down with my food service professionals and discuss issues concerning them. The next Food Forum is scheduled for January. Please contact MSgt Martigo Caldwell at 226-3632 to let him know you would like to attend.

I sincerely appreciate your interest in our food service program and I thank you for your support.

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