Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Staff Sgt. Jesse Tucker checks the temperature of a connex freezer at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, Dec. 17, 2013. The connex freezer is used to keep food products at the appropriate temperature and prevent it from s. Tucker is a 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron member deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla., and a Navarre, Fla., native. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hannah Landeros)Staff Sgt. Jesse Tucker checks the temperature of a connex freezer  Dec. 17, 2013, at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. The connex freezer is used to keep food products at the appropriate temperature and prevent them from spoiling. Tucker is a 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron member deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hannah Landeros)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Deployed Airmen prepare for holiday feastPublished Dec. 20, 2013
                    
                    By Senior Airman Hannah Landeros
                    
                    
                    379th Air Expeditionary Wing
            **SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --**At the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here, the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron food services team works to bring holiday food and cheer to service members and civilians away from home for the holiday season.
In addition to the holiday rush, the Independence Dining Facility teams here feed the most people in the U.S. Air Force Central Command area of responsibility 24/7.
To accomplish this, holiday meal planning begins nearly two months before the event takes place.
More than 100 volunteers, including other country nationals and military members make up the team that prepares the meal and provide an atmosphere of holiday cheer.
"Our body, mind and souls need a little relaxation from time to time, and celebrating the holidays is a great way to consume the good stuff," said Master Sgt. Tanja Hawkins, the 379th's EFSS food services coordinator.
Holiday dinners boost morale and make service members feel at home, Hawkins said.
During the holiday dinner, senior leaders volunteer by serving meals to service members, coalition partners and contractors, said Airman 1st Class Sean Jeffcoat.
"It really means a lot to our customers when they come in and see their leadership and mentors going to work with their aprons and chef hats," Hawkins said.
It's a team effort bringing the holiday spirit to a deployed location, Jeffcoat said.
The dining facility provides 2,000 to 2,500 meals during the holiday season. Combined with the other dining facilities on base, approximately 9,000 meals are served during this time.
Along with preparations for the holiday meal, members of the food services team continue their daily duties providing quality assurance to the dining facilities. These duties include temperature checks on the freezers, regular temperature checks on food being served on the line and ensuring that the appropriate food is served. This type of quality assurance is provided to ensure public health standards are met.
"The best part of a project is seeing the other personnel in awe," Jeffcoat said. "We appreciate it when patrons show their gratitude for our hard work."holiday meal 



DFAC 



services 



force support 



christmas Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                Kendall, Allvin, Saltzman urge modernization while warning Senate of delayed budgets
                    
                    Readout of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel to the Philippines
                    
                    Air Force senior leaders visit Eielson AFB
                    
                    Air Force leaders focus on ACE during Kadena AB visit
                    
                    USAF senior leaders visit Mariana Islands on ACE tripInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand
                    
                    Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil