FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Long days at the office with never ending meetings or long days outside with hard physical activities can leave a service member exhausted both physically and mentally, but three times a day you can relax and unwind as you refuel at the dining facility.
Soldiers and civilians who work at Tice Hall in the battle command training center dining facility are doing their part in keeping service members well fed and hydrated during the 2009 Vibrant Response exercise at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Aug. 1-9.
"We are conducting 24-hour food operations to support this exercise," said Army Master Sgt. Robert Keppler, chief food service advisor, 35th Infantry Division. "We are here to provide the participants with quality, nutritious food."
Sgt. Brian Bailey, first cook, 137th Transportation Company (Palletized Loading System), also sees the benefits of having a military dining facility available for VR09 participants.
"We offer a more affordable alternative for food to the troops rather than have them drive off and spend their money at more expensive restaurants," said Bailey, a native of Wichita, Kan.
Even with affordable prices, the dining facility continues to have good service and good food to provide service members with day after day.
"I think [the dining facility] is extraordinarily good given the way it is set up," said David Terry, deputy director of logistics, Joint Task Force Civil Support. "It is good institutional food. The facility is well maintained and the people are friendly and helpful."
"The staff is very friendly," agreed Air Force Capt. Meg Connelly, JTF-CS chief of the joint personnel center.
As a rule, the dining facility staff does all they can to make the dining experience enjoyable.
"When people come into the dining facility, I will try to greet them by their name and their rank to make them feel welcome," said Bailey. "It may not be a fancy dining facility, but it is one of the friendliest ones that you are going to experience."
The staff at the Tice Hall dining facility enjoys seeing happy customers. They like to know that their patrons are going home happy and full.
" I like to see the smile on people's face when they have a good meal and when they thank us the next time they come through," said Sgt. Michael Nance, first cook, 108th Aviation Regiment.
Though the days may be long and intense, a service member can always look forward to the time at the dining facility for a moment of release.
"I believe that morale starts in the dining facility," explained Keppler, a native of Imperial, Mo. "If I can start someone's day with a good appetizing meal, I have succeeded. With all the complex things going on in the day to day lives of the service members, this is the place they can come and rest and have complete peace of mind for the 30-45 minutes that they are here."