SERE's Ross undergoes major reconstruction effort

Published July 3, 2012
By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen from across Team Fairchild joined together at the Roger A. Ross Dining Facility as it was reopened after a more than two month reconstruction effort for Aramark during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., June 27.

Aramark is a Fairchild culinary service which provides for much of the dining experiences across the installation. Fairchild is one of six bases to receive the 'Food Transformation Initiative' upgrade meant to provide Airmen and Aramark alike with an enhanced and more efficient serving line. The other bases receiving the update include Travis AFB, Calif., Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Patrick AFB, Fla., Macdill AFB, Fla., and Little Rock AFB, Ark.

"Since the Air Force's only survival school opened in 1991, the Ross has played a crucial role in sustaining the more than 10,000 students who process through the school annually," said Brian Holzworth, Aramark general manager.

The Ross is situated at the heart of the 336th Training Group's operations and is the primary means for providing the school's students with the food they need to complete their rigorous training schedule.

"This facility will go a long way when we're talking about keeping our troops nourished," said Col. William Thomas, 336th TRG commander. "The quality of this facility is much better and we'd like to give a special thanks to the 92nd Force Support Squadron for making this upgrade a reality."

Capt. Jennifer Colby, 92nd Mission Support Group executive officer, said these renovations, which are currently being made to the Warrior Dining Facility, help facilitate Aramark as they bring their campus vision to Fairchild.

"The Air Force Services Agency contracted with Aramark here as they did at the other five test bases," Colby said. "AFSVA co-agreed with Aramark on all the designs and provided the $2 million in funding for both the Ross and Warrior dining facilities."

Colby said that Bovis Lend Lease, a 'mega-contractor,' then subcontracted out the work to local contractors to complete the projects.

"These upgrades are really important for the quality of life for our Airmen," said Colby. "I've seen the Ross -- it looks great and the food is awesome."

The Warrior is tentatively scheduled to reopen July 23. For more information, visit Fairchild's Facebook page [www.facebook.com/FairchildAFB] for ongoing updates as they become available.