Dining Facility to Reopen Dec. 1

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ned T. Johnston
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Diner's Reef dining facility is slated to reopen Dec. 1 after it's more than three-month closure for improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
The closure was necessary to ensure better cooling throughout the facility for the employees working in both the front and back of the facility.

Aside from the HVAC renovation, Diner's Reef also received a new front grill and fryer. Other repairs were performed on various pieces of equipment throughout the kitchen and self-help projects on the back offices and locker rooms. These projects created a better environment for the employees to work in.

During Diner's Reef's closure, all dorm residents on meal card received basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), which helped pay for the out-of-pocket expenses for food. However, this will end in step with the reopening of Diner's Reef. 

"All dorm residents on meal card will go back to using their meal card effective Dec. 1, and will no longer receive BAS in their paychecks on Dec. 15," said Senior Master Sgt. Deborah Parsons, 6th Force Support Squadron sustainment flight superintendent.

If Airmen notice that BAS still shows in their Dec. 15 paycheck, they should contact their first sergeant and understand that they are responsible for paying this money back.

Although the closure may have inconvenienced some dorm residents, the improvements will aid not only the employees, but also extend the life cycle of the equipment used in the kitchen, as the hot conditions were causing equipment, motors and light bulbs to fail prematurely.

"We would like to thank everyone for their continued patience during our closure," exclaimed Parsons. "This renovation provided a safer and much more comfortable working environment for our Airmen, and we're excited to open once again."