Mobile Canteen keeps rolling, rolling, rolling, ‘round station

Photo By Sgt. Benjamin Pryer | A sailor with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Health Clinic purchases food from the Mobile Canteen, operated by Marine Corps Community Services aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 4, 2013. The cantina updates its products every so often as to provide more choices to station residents.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

10.03.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Pryer 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - The Crossroads Mall Food Court, JD’s Grille, the Commissary - all of these establishments aboard station share one crucial tie: food.

While visiting these locales may seem like a trivial task for some station residents, others who may not have such a flexible schedule might find it troublesome to make trips to and from a restaurant and work, especially given the possibility of lunch-time traffic.

With the help of the Mobile Canteen, also known as the Cantina, provided by Marine Corps Community Services, station residents who suffer from the complication of not being able to reach a regular restaurant have the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal.

“The Mobile Canteen is for the convenience of the people working in specific locations; those who don’t have the time to go to the Commissary, Food Court, or Exchange in order to buy stuff,” said Koichi Ishimura, assistant general manager for Marine Corps Community Services Food Court. “The Cantina is an opportunity for them to have a meal quickly.”

MCCS provides three vehicles that drive around the station. While all three trucks have designated routes they follow, customers may request the cantina, via phone call to 253-4108.

“We go to all the major areas, but sometimes people will call with special requests. Sometimes we go out to Penny Lake when they are doing field training,” said Ishimura.

For sailors who work inside the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic, a food outlet such as the Cantina can mean the difference between having a hot lunch or nothing.

“This is hands-down convenient for lunch time to have someone come by and sell hot food and drinks. It’s great that I can just go straight back to work,” said Chief Petty Officer Jennifer Gabbard, acting senior enlisted leader for the Branch Health Clinic. “We have a duty crew that can’t leave during the day, so we have him come by here and bring hot meals instead of making people go on food runs, which would bring down the duty crew.”

Ishimura also said that the Cantina travels to the station air terminal on Fridays and Saturdays, in order to provide a hot meal to those who may be stuck waiting for their Patriot flight, as well as supporting special events that take place aboard station, such as the recent Summer Music Festival and annual triathlon.

“We’re here to serve the customer and I’m really glad that people have the opportunity to enjoy the snacks we supply,” said Ishimura. “It’s like a convenient store driving around on base.”

While the provision of the Cantina is financially beneficial, Ishimura said that he and his coworkers have more endearing reasons for their work.

“The customer is who we’re working for. We get paid by that service, but it’s more than that,” said Ishimura. “I know that for all the drivers and the managers of the Cantina, it’s not just about working for the money, they love to make the customers happy. Sometimes, even for special events, we get called last minute, but nobody is going to complain. Especially here, with such limited choices, we try to introduce new items as much as possible so people stay happy.”

The Cantina operates from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

• Date Taken: 10.03.2013
• Date Posted: 10.08.2013 01:38
• Story ID: 114883
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP