Dining Facility Offers Midnight Chow to Hungry Troops

By U.S. Army Spc. Kelly Hunt / 4th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2003 — Being in the military during a deployment isn’t a nine to five job, so that’s why personnel at Kellogg Brown and Root have now included a midnight chow option at the Dragon dining facility (DFAC) for troops in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner options already established.

“I don’t think anyone should go without a meal,” said Jim Pacurari, food service manager, Kellogg Brown and Root, and thanks to the Brown and Root dining facilities being open late, no troop will have to.

Troops all over Bagram are working late, pulling night shifts to provide security and support to the area and until now, late night workers had to make do with snacks or Meals Ready to Eat to get them through their work day.

“MREs are not the answer,” said Pacurari. “We have everybody working night shifts and they should have an opportunity for a meal.”

“Sometimes the mission gets overbearing where you have to miss a meal,” said Lewis Baker, food service supervisor. “What we provide at night is something to tide them over till breakfast.”

Hot soup, sandwiches, pastries, fruit, hot coffee and assorted beverages are available from 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily to troops looking for a meal.

The number of hungry troops making their way to the dining facility for midnight chow continues to grow each night and, according to Baker, they see nearly 100 to 120 visitors each night.

It’s not just a chance to grab a sandwich and refuel, but the new option gives troops another place to just relax, said Pacurari.

“ Where else can they go to relax?” he asked. “MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) has (options) but MWR is still limited so at least now, they can go into a peaceful dining facility and have a good meal.”

The chow hall is now not only a place to eat, but also a place to get away from the daily grind of the mission, and with football season up and running, fans now have place to unwind and keep up with the season.

“Those guys that watch the game, if they want to come and grab a sandwich, they can,” said Baker. They watch the game and it’s good for them, he said. “That kind of helps the guys out.”

Pacurari understands the stress involved with deployments because he is a former soldier himself. He has taken it upon himself to make the places he can affect places for troops to escape the day.

“Being an ex soldier, I don’t like anything military in the DFAC,” he said. “I like a civilian décor, so they can have a relaxed environment.”

It’s good for them to have a place to go and relax, said Baker. “It’s not hectic, it’s not rushed and there’s not so many people in here.”

It breaks the monotony of deployed life, Baker added.

Midnight chow is a stepping-stone toward the twenty-four hour service Bagram’s chow halls hope to provide in the future.

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Troops enjoy a late night meal and a relaxing break from the military grind during midnight chow, now open at Dragon dining facility from 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelly Hunt


Sempers,

Roger