37TH TRAINING WING CELEBRATES 38 YEARS OF OPERATION HOME COOKING

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 San Antonio area families can express their warmth and hospitality to Airmen and trainees at JBSA-Lackland by allowing them an opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal and family atmosphere through Operation Home Cooking.

     In its 38th year, the program provides the opportunity for area families to share their traditional Thanksgiving celebration with Air Force Airmen and basic trainees. Through the years families have generously opened their homes to these young men and women, recognizing that many are away from home for the first time. This program is designed for family participation and not intended for groups or organizations. This ensures everyone wanting to participate has an opportunity to do so. Last year local residents hosted 4,796 Air Force members for Thanksgiving dinner.

     Families within the San Antonio metropolitan area may invite two Airmen or trainees by calling 671-5453, 5454 or 3701. To request an Airman or trainee by name you must be an immediate family member, for example a mother, father, brother, sister or grandparent and live in the San Antonio Metropolitan area. Exceptions can be made for Airmen in the 8th week of training. To request an Airman or trainee by name, call the same numbers listed above and state that your request is a "by name" request. The lines will open Monday, October 29, 2013, and remain available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are required to host Airmen or trainees. Phone lines will remain open until Nov. 27, 2013, or until all eligible trainees have been requested, whichever occurs first. Anyone calling after the total is reached may be placed on a wait list and called back if more hosts are required.

     Out-of-town relatives with trainees in basic training who will graduate during Thanksgiving week may request them by name. Hosts must provide transportation and pick up their trainees at the Basic Military Training Reception Center located in building 7246. If the Airman or trainee is a by name request, they can be picked up from their squadron on Thanksgiving Day between 7:00 and 11:00 a.m.

     All Airmen and basic trainees must be returned to their squadrons according to their designated return time which will never be later than 7:00 p.m. Traffic getting on the installation and between the squadrons will be extremely heavy. We ask that you plan accordingly.

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Media interested in covering the departure of trainees at JBSA-Lackland must contact the 37th Training Wing Office of Public Affairs at no later than 4 p.m. on Nov. 21.