Operation Home Cooking, Family Feast kicks off the holiday season

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  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Operation Home Cooking and Operation Family Feast are two programs that provide Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Airmen in training an opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal in a family atmosphere with local San Antonio area families willing to show their hospitality.

 

While both programs allow families to host Airmen, Operation Home Cooking is for Airmen in basic military training while Operation Family Feast is for Airmen in technical training.

 

Throughout the years, families have generously opened their homes to these young men and women, recognizing many of them are away from home for the first time.

 

These programs are designed for family participation and not intended for groups. This ensures every family wanting to participate in these programs has an opportunity to do so.

 

Reservations are required. host families cannot just show up on Thanksgiving Day with no notice or unannounced and obtain Airmen and trainees.

 

There are a limited number of Airmen and trainees available. Anyone who makes a request after the total number of available trainees has been reached may be placed on a waiting list and called back if more host families are required.

 

Host families must pick up their Airmen and trainees at the designated location provided. Host families will cover all cost associated with meal and travel. There will be no financial transactions between the host family and trainees. Please discuss food allergies with the Airmen and trainees. In addition, they are not permitted to use tobacco products or consume alcoholic beverages.

 

They must be returned back to their respective squadrons or dorms according to their designated return time. We ask that you plan accordingly for traffic.

 

Operation Home Cooking

 

In its 42st year, the program provides the opportunity for families to share their traditional Thanksgiving celebrations with Air Force Airmen and trainees.

 

Host families within the San Antonio metropolitan area may invite trainees as a “General Request.” To request a trainee under the “By Name Request” program, you must be an immediate family member (e.g. parent, sibling or grandparent), and live in the San Antonio Metropolitan area. Exception will be for trainees in the 6th week of training. Out-of-town relatives who have trainees in BMT graduating during Thanksgiving week may request them by name for Thanksgiving lunch and/or dinner.

 

To request a trainee through either category, call 210-671-5453, 210-671-5454 or 210-671-3701. Requests can be made starting Oct. 30, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone lines will remain open till Nov. 23 or until all eligible trainees have been requested, whichever occurs first.

 

Due to heightened security measures, hosts without a current Department of Defense ID card to grant them base access are required to have a background check and visitor’s pass prior to entering the base. Host families can pick up their visitor’s pass at the Luke Gate Visitor Reception Center, located off Military Drive and open 24/7, until Nov. 23.

 

Trainees who are “General Requests” will be picked up at the Pfingston Reception Center, building 6330, JBSA-Lackland, while those who are “By Name Request” can be picked up from their respective squadrons Thanksgiving Day between 7-11 a.m. 

 

They must be returned back to their respective squadrons no later than 7 p.m. 

 

Operation Family Feast

 

Families who have a current DOD ID card granting them base access and live within the San Antonio metropolitan area may host two to four Airmen. Base passes will not be provided to families without a DOD ID card, so they will not be able to host Airmen. 

 

To request an Airmen, please email operationfamilyfeast@gmail.com. The reservation is not finalized and confirmed until a confirmation email has been sent back to the requestor(s). The last day to make a request is Nov. 17.

 

Airmen will be picked up at Arnold Hall, 1560 Stewart Street, JBSA-Lackland, Thanksgiving Day, between 10-11 a.m. They must be returned back to their respective dorms no later than 8 p.m. that evening. 

 

For more information about Operation Family Feast, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/938974492910515/.