JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, New Jersey -- For the last eight months, the Halverson Hall Dining Facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has been closed due to renovations. But Team MDL can get excited because the DFAC is scheduled to re-open in the third quarter of 2019 with a number of improvements.
Located in the same building as before, the Halverson Hall DFAC has been undergoing several changes, with the main change being the feeding concept – FOOD 2.0.
“This concept was introduced in 2010 to shift how food is delivered to today’s Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Lawlor, 87th Force Support Squadron Food Service superintendent. “Airmen will be provided greater variety, availability, food quality, revamped menu options, healthier selections, new aesthetic dining facility serveries, increased operating hours, speed of service and an overall better dining experience.
FOOD 2.0’s objective is to transform Appropriated Fund and Non-Appropriated Fund feeding capabilities into a single feeding platform using an enterprise approach to create venues similar to those found on leading corporate, college and university campuses, according to Lawlor.
Not all bases have flipped to FOOD 2.0, JB MDL is the fourth portfolio of installations to go through this transition.
“Legacy DFACs would mainly have a main line, snack line, salad bar and that’s about it,” Lawlor said. “This change is much different. There will be stations – international station such as Asian or Mongolian type meals on rotation, a main line or al-la-carte, smoothie bar and pizza bar.”
FOOD 2.0 has eight specific goals:
- Enhance food quality, variety, and availability
- Maintain home base and war-fighting feeding capabilities
- Focus on Airmen’s changing needs, lifestyles, and preferences
- Enhance sense of community
- Improve programs and facilities
- Provide enhanced nutritious meals
- Improve efficiency
- Decrease costs
“When these goals are accomplished, the result is a robust food service operation providing outstanding meals and service to military personnel, civilians assigned to the installation, retirees, and family members,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Christopher Kaufman 87th FSS Food Operations officer.
According to Lawlor, FOOD 2.0 will enhance a sense of Air Force community by allowing civilians, families, and retirees to eat in the dining facility. Additionally, the DFAC will also take ATM and credit card payments.
“Translation – anyone who has access to the installation can eat at the DFAC – bottom line,” said Lawlor. “Legacy DFACs were cash only.”
“Airmen are going to see an enhanced experience,” Lawlor said. “Not only is the food going to be better, they are going to enjoy the experience when they come into the facility. The ambiance is going to be nice. The DFAC will include a ton of outlets and charging stations for phones and laptops.”
The Flight Kitchen, located inside the Passenger Terminal, will also be undergoing some changes as soon as the DFAC renovation is complete. The Flight Kitchen renovation was on hold to ensure one of the feeding capabilities was still able to support the Airmen here, according to Lawlor.
Halverson Hall is currently scheduled to re-open early August 2019.
Later this year, the 87th FSS will also introduce a new Brewery, along with updates to the food options at the Golf Courses on Joint Base MDL.
For more information about the Dining Facility and Provisions on Demand, please contact Master Sgt. Eric Lawlor at 609-650-0739 or 2nd Lt. Christopher Kaufman at 609-650-7539.