Dining Facility Availability

Author Message   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4462 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 03:43 am:    The current discussion for the recent news article is at http://www.pepperd.com/spacea/messages/7731/697844.html?1272246063 All, to continue the discussion on the history, usage etc.... of the term "dining facility" please start another topic in Off Topic Forum. Thanks!   Anthony Pinkosh New member Username: Buddysanuk Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2007 Posted From: 98.210.78.60 Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 11:19 pm:    At Travis today for my PX/Commissary run. Picked up a Tailwinds (Base Newspaper) May 7 edition... Page 9..."SIERRA INN USE OK. Military retirees are now authorized to dine at the Sierra Inn Dining Facility on any day for any meal" And please don't correct me that it's a "Mess Hall' or I'll tell you that we finally got the Kaiser. I do offer to give a ride to any of you I see wandering around Travis looking for the "Chow hall" or the "Mess hall". Incidentally, there's only one wing on the aircraft now.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6642 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 05:07 pm:    This subject now belongs, after 52 posts to the Off Topic forum.Thanks.   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 750 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 173.121.149.100 Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 03:01 pm:    John and G. Wayne, Unless things have recently, very recently, changed, retirees can not eat in the main base galley (the one on the corner -- forgot name of it). Retirees can eat in hospital galley. Good place to eat. But closed on weekends.   JOHN M. NETTLE Intermediate Member Username: Sail_on Post Number: 90 Registered: 09-2007 Posted From: 72.19.37.242 Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 02:17 pm:    Earl, Over a year ago,when my wife and I were at NAS JAX with another retired military couple, we ate meals at the Galley and had no trouble. The food was good and the price was right. We stayed at the Heritage Cottages. JOHN . . . Mesquite, Nevada   Garland Summerall Advanced Member Username: Garland Post Number: 239 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 206.251.11.18 Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 - 02:33 am:    Was at Little Creek Navel Base Va. over the weekend. I call Navel Base Norfolk about useing the dining facility. The lady who answard said she was sorry retirees could not eat there or any dining facilities in the Norfolk area.   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 749 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 68.31.149.96 Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2010 - 08:00 pm:    G Wayne, Spend much time at JAX NAS. Knew could eat in the galley at the hospital. When did the main galley (on the corner) reopen up to retirees? Must have been recently. For a long time retirees only permitted in the hospital galley ONLY. Are you there now?   G. Wayne Ragan Member Username: G_wayne Post Number: 13 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 66.19.186.51 Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2010 - 07:36 am:    At NAS Jax (Jacksonville, FL), you can eat, as a retiree, any of the meals at either the Hospital mess hall or the regular enlisted galley for very little and the food is quite good. I do not believe in "political correctness" when bowing to traditional nuances of military terminology in calling them "Dining Facilities".   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5915 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 86.159.148.6 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 06:00 pm:    Glad to hear it Earl. I hadn't heard about that myself.   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 748 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 68.31.39.138 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 02:09 am:    This may already be posted on the board: Retirees and family members can now eat in the galley at Rota NS on WEEKENDS only. (ate there last weekend) They are "thinking" about opening the galley back up to retirees for M-F as well. But for now, only on weekends and holidays.   John Advanced Member Username: Jharpst Post Number: 219 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 208.9.117.219 Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 01:49 am:    Dinner for two at Travis last night $7.00   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4367 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 88.53.117.5 Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 04:08 am:    Sam, The current discussion for the recent news article is at http://www.pepperd.com/spacea/messages/7731/697844.html?1272246063 All, to continue the discussion on the history, usage etc.... of the term "dining facility" please start another topic in Off Topic Forum. Thanks!   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 260 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.169.25.160 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 11:32 pm:    I'm older, hopefully wiser and certainly stuborn so I reflect on Dining Halls as Chow Halls or Mess Halls. In fact, the navy calls them Navy Mess. But if you want to be PC, it's ok by me as long as we can both eat in the "Dining Halls"   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6159 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 10:43 pm:    Hi Tom, yeah that would work. I forget that the draft ended in '73, so the change could have come in the mid-70s.   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 488 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 76.106.250.199 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 09:30 pm:    Lee, I am pretty sure of the date. In the 1976, myself and SFC Messer our Mess Sergeant went to Jumpmaster School at Fort Benning. And he back then was always correcting the Jumpmaster students that it was a dining facility (even though it wasn't his) and not a mess hall. Because of that, the School Mess Sergeant overheard him one day and treated us quite well the rest of the course. Was he ahead of his time, maybe. Now why you might ask would a Mess Sergeant need to go to Jumpmaster School? Well, since you asked (not really). SFC Messer made a combat jump in Korea and had over 700 jumps to his credit. His goal was to have his Master Jump Wings before he retired. But the only way he could achieved that was to go to Jumpmaster School. So our CO made an exception in case and the rest is history.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6156 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 08:33 pm:    I also call it a mess hall once in a while, even though I not only know better, but approve of the change. Tom, are you sure that was in the '70s rather than the early '80s? I could be wrong, though. Back in the draft days the mess sergeants and cooks had little prestige. And, in part, for good reason. The QM corps got last call on personnel for cooks (at least in the Army). They were always the guys who scored near the bottom of the AFQT. I thought it was in the early '80s that a new general took over the Quartermaster Center, looked around, saw low morale, low prestige and poor training and yelled "enough!" He managed to get Big Army to agree to send higher-scoring individuals into cooking schools, that meant he was able to improve the curriculum at the school, and at the same time he got rid of the terms "mess hall" and "mess sergeant". The terms did not convey the professionalism he wanted to instill in the cooks. I know a lot of people call the change "PC", but in fact it was intended to instill professionalism in an often denigrated part of the military.   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 487 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 76.106.250.199 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 08:19 pm:    I agree with you Jack. I still slip on occasion and call it "mess hall" when I know better. Our Mess Sergeant (E-7) back in the late 70's, would always correct us when we used mess hall and said this is a dining facility. Now if you guys want to eat, you are welcome in my dining facility. If you want to want to eat in the mess hall, go somewhere else. It didn't take long for us Army grunts to start calling it the dining facility. It was a small price to pay for our meals.   Jack T. Paxton Senior Member Username: Jpaxton Post Number: 819 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 24.27.231.67 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 07:56 pm:    I note the terms being used now-a-days as "chow hall" and, as a young Marine, I referred to ours as "mess halls." Since we are being politically correct these days, would think we might do better by referring to them as dining facilities as many are being run by civilians who are no doubt a bit sensitive. Certainly could not hurt :-)   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 258 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.169.214.68 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 05:05 pm:    When we are traveling and staying at base lodging, I always call the chow hall direct and ask if retirees can eat, usually told no but once in awhile get a positive answer.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6154 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 03:48 pm:    Why would you carry it with you? Notice the article says retirees "will soon" be able to eat at the six facilities. Not now. And the definition of "soon" is notoriously flexible.   sam & rj Member Username: Sam_n_son Post Number: 39 Registered: 01-2009 Posted From: 71.202.168.16 Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 03:23 pm:    Directly from the AF Retirees website, story dated 20 Apr 2010: http://www.retirees.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123200582 "The six Air Force bases participating in the initiative are Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Patrick AFB, Fla., MacDill AFB, Fla., Fairchild AFB, Wash., Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Travis AFB, Calif." Wonder if we can print this out and bring it with us? sam   Wes Loukota Member Username: Woodturner Post Number: 43 Registered: 07-2007 Posted From: 70.91.152.166 Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 04:57 pm:    Dover dining facility allows retirees. It's cheap and good. Had a really good lunch yesterday with my wife. Take a left just before the gas station. It is located near the end of the road, on the right, across the big parking lot.   Cindy Gardner Intermediate Member Username: Cindy_gardner Post Number: 59 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 76.254.56.107 Posted on Saturday, April 03, 2010 - 10:55 pm:    McChord Dining.. We were on base April 1 & inquired about eating at the dining hall. One of the servers said no & tried to shoo us out of the facility. A SSgt, who was behind the counter in the kitchen area, overheard the conversation & stepped forward saying it was OK. He told the server we looked tired & hungry, and besides, base rules were changing. After eating dinner I tried to find the SSgt to thank him again. A different SSgt said he would pass along the message. He said we could return for breakfast. We happily returned the next morning, however, the cashier was not happy to see us. She said we could not eat there. I referenced the SSgt from the previous evening & she said that applied to John only. She stated dependants were still not allowed in the dining hall. She finally let me through because all I had a bowl oatmeal (.80 cents) “and it couldn’t be returned”. ha, ha. Guess the word is out there, and some bases may feed us retirees. The only reason we even went to the dining facility was because neither John nor I could recall if McChord was part of the 6 base experiment. We live and learn.. ~Cindy   John Advanced Member Username: Jharpst Post Number: 216 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.102.47.150 Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 06:17 pm:    Little Rock I was just at Little Rock and was told not yet but soon   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6524 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 06:08 pm:    Elaine, Harry mentioned Gaylor Dining Facility.That is located on Charleston AFB.   Elaine G Intermediate Member Username: Tripper Post Number: 132 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 75.163.234.106 Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 05:22 pm:    Harry, What base are you talking about?   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4184 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 04:47 pm:    Threads merged.   Gayle Feinberg Member Username: Farnbarn Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 24.25.249.171 Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 04:40 pm:    Hi everyone, I heard that you are now able to eat at the dining halls. Does anyone know if this applies to Hickem and Pearl Harbor? The last time I checked it was a definate no. That was about a couple of months ago. Thanks for any info!   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5946 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 05:04 pm:    Thank you Harry, useful info.   Phil Doubleman Senior Member Username: Phil Post Number: 1501 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.35.26.65 Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 04:56 pm:    Great!!! Thanks, Harry for the info.   Harry Albert Hungate Member Username: Wcx7106 Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 64.200.90.146 Posted on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 04:54 pm:    In the 12 March 2010 issue of the base newspaper, a policy change is announced that retirees and their immediate family members are now authorized use of Gaylor Dining Facility during all meals. Breakfast 0530 to 0800 Lunch 1030 to 1300 Dinner 1630 to 1900 Midnight 2230 to 0100 Credit cards are not accepted, but there is an ATM machine available at dining hall entrance   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6097 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, March 12, 2010 - 02:37 am:    While it may indeed not be a "change of heart" and the base CO's might have had no say in the matter, it still would be a nice touch to thank them AS IF we thought they had anything to do with the decision. Such stroking could not hurt, and might well help!   Jerry Hunt Senior Member Username: Exflier49 Post Number: 405 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 71.99.70.184 Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 10:26 pm:    Cherry, Is the "change of heart" a response to letters written or the result of the new program, i.e., "FTI will open military food service establishments to all members of the base community, including civilian employees, family members, contractors and retirees. Diners will see an overall increase in the variety and availability of healthy menu options on base"? Agree though that is it a step in the right directon.   James Sereyko Advanced Member Username: Jimak Post Number: 293 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 72.42.147.114 Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 03:25 am:    According to Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs 2/19/2010 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) The six bases are Elmendorf, Patrick, MacDill, Fairchild, Little rock, and Travis. Here is the link: http://www.travis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123192146 Elmendorf AFB was allowing retirees to eat there before this new test, but not base civilian employees.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6093 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 02:22 am:    Sorry for the delay in following up my initial posting: As others have confirmed, it IS true that retirees are now welcome at the Travis dining facility. We had lunch there and noted that the surcharge was approximately 33%. (The price was still terrifically low, for an excellent meal.) We chatted with the manager who said she is delighted to welcome retirees -- and that they are a lot more polite and pleasant than some of the young soldiers she has had to deal with. She added that there are some retiree "regulars" who eat a couple of meals there per day, and for whom she looks out (in case they need help carrying a tray, etc.). We left a comment card praising the decision AND the facility and food, adding that when you are in transit via space-a it really means a lot to be able to get a balanced meal in pleasant surroundings. Perhaps some of the folks here who wrote polite letters to C.O.'s at various bases when we were first denied use of the dining facilities, asking them to reconsider, might take the time now to follow up with a thank you to the ones that have re-opened? (To facilitate that, does anyone have access to a list of addresses for those 6 sites plus the names of the C.O.'s, who could post same here?)   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 225 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.170.52.22 Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 02:10 am:    The way I look at it is, I take my grandchildren to the chow hall sometimes so they'd understand partially what the military is all about. I give them a military pep talk and hope they join - then I explain that the wife and I will go space a to visit. It's a recruiting tool. They like the food and sights but so far no takers.   gary Intermediate Member Username: Gary Post Number: 92 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.237.255.156 Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 12:09 am:    Can one bring a guest to eat at the dining facility? A couple of years ago I was at McChord with my grandson, and we were allowed to eat there. He was my guest. The last day we were there I was informed that the rules had changed and retirees could no longer eat there. At that time there was a question as to what the defination of a guest was. One person it was ment for active duty personel to bring a friend, and there was some discussion if my grandson could eat there. He has lived with us for the last 10 years. Although not really an official dependent. Do you think he would qualify now?   Nelly Senior Member Username: Nelly Post Number: 964 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 203.117.33.24 Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 09:26 pm:    Yokota AB-is also open to all retirees. Good food and also open at midnight ration (midrats).   John Fleming Advanced Member Username: Johnfleming10859 Post Number: 153 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 76.171.139.231 Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 12:56 pm:    The best dinning hall I ever ate in was at Bangor Naval Sub Base in Silverdale WA. The decor is fit for an Admiral and the food is first rate. Retirees and I believe also contractors allowed. My wife and I stay at the Navy Lodge there often.   John Fleming Advanced Member Username: Johnfleming10859 Post Number: 152 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 76.171.139.231 Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 12:48 pm:    McChord-- Had dinner at dining hall Sun the 7th. I asked the young lady when paying, if retires could eat 3 meals a day. She said yes. Then, said about lunch to ask the cooks. So it might depend on how busy they are for the lunch meal.   Ron Glancy Intermediate Member Username: Ron_glancy Post Number: 142 Registered: 09-2007 Posted From: 98.25.205.162 Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 11:42 am:    Charleston has been offering breakfast and evening meals to retirees for some time now. I can't remember how long it has been but we have been eating there for a long time. The food is very tasty and so inexpensive.   Earl E. Bradish Intermediate Member Username: Earl_e_bradish Post Number: 81 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 79.206.107.133 Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:11 am:    Charleston. As of last week no lunch meals permitted for retirees. Found this out after I had gone thru the line and got my plate of food. They were very nice about it tho. Its quite a walk from the terminal to the dinning hall, I think about 15-20 min.. There were maps avail. of the base at the pax terminal.   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 223 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 166.189.175.243 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 07:55 pm:    Bob Dart, the wife just read your comments and laughed and said, "That's funny, I enjoy those veterans!" It is neat to be surrounded by fellow veteran travelers and listen to their tales and hints.   Denny Knott Senior Member Username: Degause01 Post Number: 1276 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 98.183.26.167 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 06:15 pm:    NAS Pensacola Dining Facility (Mess Hall for old Gray Beards) just won the prestigious Ney Award for Large Messes Ashore....   Carole G Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 19 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 173.198.77.175 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 05:50 pm:    Dining for Retirees Hopefully, after these six test sites have a good following of retirees, they will add the other main AMC sites. They are also interested in expanding the menu to satisfy our young people so they will want to dine on base. The airmen at Travis told us the food was excellent so we knew it had to be good if they liked it. I think the 6 test sites were chosen because they are award winning dining facilities. Carole   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5739 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 88.105.94.105 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 05:28 pm:    Tony, last time I went through Charleston, about a year ago, we could eat in the dining hall every meal except lunch.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5895 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 05:21 pm:    But look for costs to increase. They will essentially be running the dining facility as a concession. That is why retirees will be allowed in. If they kept the current subsidized low prices in retiree-heavy places like Florida, they would be flooded. I have been in contact with the food service manager at one of the bases that will transition and he said that we could look forward to "substantial increases" in prices. He also said that a lot of details have yet to be worked out. So, good for convenience, which is what I want most of all, anyway. Not so good for saving money.   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1493 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 64.237.198.25 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 05:06 pm:    Bertie B, I think these are wonderful news for retirees being able to eat at the MacDill AFB dining facility. Would be nice if it was expanded to other space-a hubs like Dover, Charleston, McGuire, etc. Thanks for sharing and happy travels!   Bob Dart Senior Member Username: Bobdart Post Number: 1345 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 80.148.30.6 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 03:56 pm:    John, wait for me and I'll have dinner with you.   Richard Steiner Member Username: Cgeidl Post Number: 8 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 68.109.145.134 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 02:42 pm:    Best meal ever for dining facility is the Friday seafood at Petaluma CG Base which has large prawns,crab, and all the salad soup and hot items you want As it is a cooking school they do things right. We am glad Travis is open as we live 4-5 months about 10 minutes from the dining hall. Travis has a really great brunch at the collated club. Must be a new DOD decision.   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5736 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 88.105.94.105 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 01:27 pm:    Glad to see that it is open again. Ate a few meals there, and enjoyed it. Was sad when it closed, now I am happy again.   Bertie B Member Username: Bertie Post Number: 49 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 97.77.122.46 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 01:17 pm:    I saw this online at the MacDill site http://www.macdill.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123193238   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 222 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 166.189.175.243 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 11:13 am:    I'd go space a to Travis just to eat in the dining hall. That is the best dining facility I've ever found in my travels!   Carole G Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 17 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 173.198.77.175 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 04:24 am:    Travis Dining for retirees That information is correct. We ate in the dining facility last thursday. We informed everyone we saw to the new policy. There are 5 test sites: Travis, Little Rock, Patrick and I don't remember the other two. It was in the base newspaper at Travis and I saw it in the Patrick paper before we left. Enjoy!   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6089 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 12.11.239.226 Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 12:33 am:    (I hope this hasn't already been reported, AND that it is true!) Si nce arriving at Travis a few hours ago we have been told by two different people that the dining facility IS now open to retirees, except on Reserve Weekends. One of the people was someone who had just eaten there and verified that the cashier was reading the new policy as they approached to check out. Nobody is answering the phone at the D.F. now, so I will need to try to confirm this in the a.m. (Maybe all the polite letters to the C.O. asking for a reversal of the no-retirees policy actually helped?)