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Healthy options available at JB MDL PAX terminal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Unless travelers are active-duty military, there are limited food options available at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Passenger Terminal.

A flight kitchen is available to serve hot food to active-duty servicemembers only, but others are limited to the options in vending machines. Local restaurants can deliver food to the PAX but most are not available 24 hours a day.

"We are a customer service agency," said 2nd Lt. Allen Jaime, 305th Aerial Port Squadron passenger services flight commander. "Our goal is to provide services the customer wants and is looking for."

Feedback is continuously given to the PAX terminal suggesting improvements and recommendations to make the stay better for guests.

With the help of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the PAX terminal was able to bring in two healthy choice vending machines. The refrigerated machines provide healthy snacks and drinks to customers not wanting to consume candy, soda and other high-sugared snacks.

This implementation reinforces the Comprehensive Airman Fitness philosophy which focuses on maximizing the development potential of Airmen and their families using initiatives to help reduce self-defeating behaviors, feelings of hopelessness and despair.

"The new machines can record and transmit data to the vendor to show how much a specific product is being purchased," said Jaime. "If a specific product isn't moving, the vendor will replace it with a new item in hopes to maximize consumer satisfaction."
The complaints and suggestions by frequent travelers about the snack options available come on the heels of the Air Force reshaping the physical training standards. Airmen are now more conscience of what foods they are putting in their body and how their physical fitness impacts the mission.

"I think there have been big changes in the way Airmen now eat," said Senior Airman Nikol Carrawell, 87th Air Base Wing knowledge operations manager. "The PT standards have affected the way most look at nutrition and it's good to see more options available for those that want to avoid chips, cookies and soda."

This implementation reinforces the Comprehensive Airman Fitness philosophy which focuses on maximizing the development potential of Airmen and their families using initiatives to help reduce self-defeating behaviors, feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Offering alternative snack choices to Airmen and their families is a way to support some of the concepts in the CAF. Leadership at the JB MDL Passenger Terminal is doing their part to provide Airmen with the choices to succeed.

The CAF is a structural framework of 4-pillars consisting of physical, social, mental and spiritual strength along with the five C's as a way of life; care, commit, connect, communicate and celebrate. Studies show when people are positive, good things happen.

The CAF vision is a community of balanced, healthy, self-confident Airmen and families whose resilience and total fitness enables them to thrive in an era of high ops tempo and persistent conflict.