DFAC closes; AF projected to save more than $250,000 per year

  • Published
  • By Airman Ryan Conroy
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE,Italy --  The Buon Appetito Dining Facility at Aviano closed its doors permanently, August 23, 2013, saving the Air Force more than $21,000 monthly, or more than $250,000 yearly.

The reason for the closing stems from Air Force-wide budgetary constraints and lack of customers, says Master Sgt. Jacob Barga, 31st Force Support Squadron food service section chief.

Buon Appetito is an additional DFAC for dormitory Airmen due to the unique structure of Aviano AB. Since the base is split into different areas and each area is geographically separated, dormitories are located in two different areas.

"The facility was losing money two-fold," said Barga. "Without a sufficient number of Airmen consuming the services, we were losing thousands."

According to the MSgt Cilbiano Rivera, 31st Force Support Squadron sustainment services flight superintendent, out of the more than 160 Airmen living in the dormitories in Area 2, only 25 were continuously utilizing Buon Appetito's services. The lack of customers costs the facility upwards of $3,300 per month in food waste and $9,900 in utility costs.

"Considering I eat a ton, having the DFAC to indulge at was great for a person like me," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Diotte, 31st Medical Support Squadron longtime customer of Buon Appetito. "However the rest of my coworkers did not utilize the DFAC anywhere close to the amount I did."

When the new dormitories, which have been under construction for more than two years, are complete, the majority of Airmen who use a meal card are scheduled to move to Area F where the primary DFAC is located.

Although having a DFAC adjacent to dormitories in Area 2 was convenient, Airmen are being compensated through a Basic Allowance for Sustenance, which started July 1, 2013, which provides them $352.27 to buy their own food.

The DFAC has been gradually making adjustments to their menus, hours and personnel throughout the year. Despite these efforts, the amount of food waste and money lost was too high, said Barga.

"It started out with the facility closing for dinner and on the weekends," said Airman 1st Class Shane M. Mikolajewski, Buon Appetito consumer. "Although I consistently used my meal card, if closing the DFAC in Area 2 will yield benefits for the base, then I support this decision."