JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- To sustain a goal, there must be a constant support toward it, and at McChord Field, the flight kitchen is just that, supporting the Airmen and personnel to keep them well enough to sustain the mission.
Five Airmen from the 627th Force Support Squadron run the flight kitchen at McChord Field, catering to the 52,000 personnel at Joint Base Lewis McChord to keep them fed as they sustain their mission.
The flight kitchen supports missions by creating meals 24-hours a day for any personnel that fly out from JBLM, including aircrews from the airlift squadrons here on McChord Field, the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 373rd Training Squadron, the 446th Airlift Wing, Army members and those who fly on space-available flights.
"When the Army flies out, sometimes there is an entire battalion leaving for a mission and so we coordinate with their first sergeant and create all of their meals for them," said, Tech. Sgt. Jocelyn Ferber, 627th FSS assistant dining facility manager.
Along with those who fly, the flight kitchen creates ground meals for Airmen on base.
The 627th FSS has their meal plan figured out down to such a precise point that in case of emergencies, they are able to create meals in five minutes from the time they are notified.
The personnel in the flight kitchen work hand-in-hand with the Airmen in the McChord dining facility.
If there is a moment when the members in the flight kitchen are overwhelmed with an order, they are able to call members from the 627th FSS in the dining facility for help. The flight kitchen also helps the dining facility during events such as the quarterly birthday meal.
The flight kitchen will create approximately 2,200 meals per month for those who fly, depending on the mission requirements for that month. They are capable of creating 10 meals every five minutes.
"Depending on orders, we usually have a 24-hour-notice on missions," said Staff Sgt. Monica Snow, 627th FSS NCO in charge of the flight kitchen. "During the night shift, the personnel will prepare boxes to put the food in, and the morning shift will create the sandwiches and the food so we are always ready."
The meals that come from the flight kitchen are balanced and packed full of nutrients needed to support the personnel on the flight to include fruits and water. The menu for the flight kitchen meals is full of variety, containing more than 220 different meal combinations along with 12 different varieties of Meals, Ready to Eat. They also cater to different requirements for those that have allergies and for those that request specific items such as white bread or wheat bread.
"Sustainment is our mission," said Snow. "We are here to support military personnel and families, and everyone on the installation flying out to maintain the mission."
The flight kitchen serves all active duty, Reserve, and Guard units for both the Air Force and the Army. They also serve civilians that work on the flight line. Identification is required if not in uniform.
The flight kitchen is located in building 1419 near the north gate. For more information, contact the flight kitchen at 253-982-2828.