Have You Heard of FTI?

  • Published
  • By Stephanie Johnson
  • 19th Force Support Squadron Marketing Department
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The Air Force has been meeting the dining needs of Airmen and their families for more than 60 years through dining facilities, clubs and snack bars. However, times have changed and our needs have shifted.

Research conducted by Air Force officials indicated Airmen desired more menu variety and increase operating hours - the Food Transformation Initiative (FTI) was put into place to address these issues. FTI is a pilot program implemented in October 2010 to provide Airmen with improved food quality, variety and availability while maintaining home station and warfighting feeding capabilities. The six initial pilot locations include Elmendorf AFB, Fairchild AFB, MacDill AFB, Patrick AFB, Travis AFB and our own Little Rock AFB.

As part of FTI, the Air Force partnered with ARAMARK at the six initial pilot locations to improve the distribution and availability of food service, improve the quality and diversity of food offerings, maintain home base war fighting feeding capabilities, and reduce costs associated with the provision of food service on base.

"Our Airmen give us 100 percent," said Lt Col Veronica V. Anteola, Commander of the 19th Force Support Squadron. "Our focus is to provide Airmen nutritionally balanced meals and overall timely and quality service so Airmen have the energy to meet the demands of their mission."

You may have already noticed these changes here at Little Rock AFB compared to other bases you have visited. A key feature of FTI is the introduction of campus-style dining, mirroring a college "community commons." Gone are the traditional cafeteria-style serving lines. Step into the Hercules Dining Facility (DFAC) and you will notice updated décor and healthy offerings such as the Cooking Light station or our own "Rock Plate" which offers composition and portions of selected lean protein and non-starchy vegetables. The renovations also added serving stations such as salads, sandwiches and pizza, allowing customers to proceed directly to their station of choice. In addition, unlike non-FTI bases, you are free to dine with your family since it is open to civilians. "We are restoring a sense of community at Little Rock by allowing Airmen and their families to dine together at all of our dining locations," said Lt Col Anteola.

The Hungry Herc (also known as Provisions on Demand or P.O.D) is located right off the flight line in Hangar 276 and offers convenient and healthy grab-and-go options for the entire base. Hangar 1080, Ten Pins at the Bowling Center and The Fairways at Deer Run Golf Course are also great options for a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Airmen who utilize a meal card are able to purchase food at any of these locations.
While ARAMARK manages both the dining facilities (i.e., Hercules Dining Facility or DFAC) and non-appropriated fund food operations (i.e., Hangar 1080, Ten Pins at the Bowling Center and The Fairways at Deer Run Golf Course), it only sets pricing at the non-appropriated fund food operations. Pricing at the DFAC is set by the Air Force through appropriated funds, which are funded through Congress.

The program has been such a success at the six pilot programs (including an eight percent increase in customer satisfaction) that FTI will be expanding to seven additional bases in the next few months. FTI offers Airmen several advantages such as enhanced food quality, variety and availability, including additional healthy choices that support the Air Force's continued emphasis on fitness and overall well-being; convenient locations with hours of operation aligned with customer needs, and an improved community oriented atmosphere.