AMC directive limits dining facility patronage Published March 19, 2007 By Tyler Hemstreet 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- As part of Air Mobility Command's contract and support reduction initiative, base officials will limit patronage in the dining facility starting April 1. The move is an important step towards conserving resources in a time of increasing budgetary constraints, according to a press release from AMC. The dining facility's primary purpose is to serve Airmen as their primary eatery, provide a training environment for food service personnel and provide meals in support of daily flight operations, said 2nd Lt. Rena Sandgren, 62nd Services Squadron. The dining facility will continue to serve enlisted members receiving essential station messing or basic allowance for subsistence, military members and civilians on temporary duty assignments with an authorized meal per diem on their orders and officers and Department of Defense civilians who chose to eat midnight meals while on duty if there are a lack of eating establishments on or near the installation during midnight meal hours. Family members of active duty Airmen, retirees and their immediate family members may eat at the dining facility only on federal holidays, Easter and the Air Force's birthday. Dependents of deployed Airmen may also eat at the facility on Tuesday nights. "There will also be a poster at the entrance to the dining facility detailing the changes in policy," Lieutenant Sandgren said. In addition, there will be signs talking about the changes in policy at the golf course, fitness center and lodging facilities, she said. Military members of all ranks, dependents and retirees will still have a number of dining options available on base from both the 62nd SVS and the base exchange's food court. The 62nd SVS offers meals and appetizers at McChord's Clubs and Community Center, Habañero Mexican Grill, Sounder's Lane's snack bar, Buster's, Café Lancelatte and Smoothee's Juice Bar.