The Breeze reopens to all ID cardholders

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  People who possess a DOD identification card have another dining option now that the Breeze Dining Facility is reopened.

With the final phase of implementing the Food Transformation Initiative now complete, the doors opened to the Breeze Oct. 9, showing the sleek, remodeled interior. The completed campus dining concept includes the Bayview Club, Legends, the Golf Course's Turning Café and Lift Express, formerly known as Tradewinds. Air Education and Training Command's Lightning Dining Facility on the 33rd Fighter Wing side of the base is not included in this initiative and still has limited access.

The 96th Force Support Squadron re-opened the Breeze at 10:30 a.m., with a grand opening celebration. Cake and punch were served  with door prizes and giveaways awarded throughout the day. Information on events for the entire grand opening week, including tastings and daily drawings, are posted in the facility. Eligible Airmen will revert back to their original ESM status Oct. 16 and will once again be able to use their meal card entitlement at any FSS dining establishment.

The menu at the Breeze is brighter and lighter. According to Food Service officer Aubrey Harvey, diners can expect smoothies, a Mongolian Wok station and a line of food choices called U-Grill, which includes healthier cooking techniques of standard fare like pizza, hamburgers and chicken.

"The U-Grill turned out to be one of the most popular stations at other bases," said Harvey.

Chief Master Sgt. Nyron Alexander, 96th FSS Sustainment Services Flight superintendent, said healthier meals will provide Airmen with the healthiest alternatives to meet readiness requirements Air Force- wide.

"We're the home of the F-35, the fifth generation aircraft and we're making fifth generation Airmen the most resilient and adaptive ever, so with it comes change," he said.

Another big change is civilians can now eat at the Breeze, upping the average daily usage from approximately 850 to potentially 2,400 persons a day. Harvey is confident he has the manpower to run the operation. The military who were temporarily reassigned when the facility closed are back now that there's a food mission again. Although there is a contractor in place, the food service Airmen will be on the serving line and cooking in the kitchen under the supervision of the contractor's chef.

"The contractor, Sodexo, brought a brand name plus a menu, techniques and training program and merged them with our military standards and our Airmen," Alexander said.

Capt. Julie Teffeteller, 96th FSS Sustainment Services Flight Commander said she's anxious to see how the users will react.

"I like the concept, but there are a lot of unknowns," she said. "People need to remember this is a contracted operation with competitive pricing to meet the industry standard for the quality of food being provided. With quality comes cost, the customary low-priced dining is being replaced with normally priced, better meals."

The Breeze hours of operation vary; it will be open Monday to Friday from 6 to 7 a.m. for active duty in uniform. At 7 a.m., it is open to anyone with base access. Lunch starts for active duty at 10:30 and other patrons at 11:30 a.m.  Dinner for active duty begins at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for all others. Weekend and holiday hours are posted at the Breeze and on the 96th FSS website here.