Army using Fort Hood soldiers to test new FEED program
FORT HOOD, Texas (KWTX) - 200 men and women in uniform are taking part in a U.S. Army trial program called FEED.
“The program allows the soldiers, the meal card holders, to utilize their meal entitlement at a variety of AAFES locations across the installation,” said CW4 Shedrick Swain, Senior Command Food Advisor with Army Materiel Command
The program allows them to scan their Common Access Card to get a meal.
Normally those cards only work at dining facilities like Warrior Restaurants on post.
Through the FEED program, they’ve got options like Burger King, Qdoba, or even Starbucks.
Each having a menu out like this one, showing the meals available through the FEED program.
I asked several soldiers participating in the trial, what their experience with the program has been like so far.
“I would say easy,” said SPC Donte McDaniels.
“It’s definitely been easy because you have so many options,” said SPC Charissa Cannonier.
It’s not just the increase in options participants are happy about, it’s also the convenience.
“Especially if I’m on a time crunch to get to work and the DFAC is maybe miles away,” said PFC William Kerin. “Whereas, the food where I have access to right now, is conveniently maybe a 2-minute walk.”
Which really is the point of the FEED program.
“We have lived in the days in the past where soldiers have only had the dining facilities to rely on this program is expanding the aperture and the options that they have across a military installation, to help support them and their nutritional needs,” said CW4 Swain.
Soldiers participation in the trial seem to have the same basic takeaway.
“My biggest takeaway, I think, is the fantastic option,” said SPC Charissa Cannonier. “You’re able to come and eat 7-days a week, weekends are included. Which is a big thing as far as the hours.”
If the FEED program trial is successful, they hope to expand it across the Army so every soldier that needs it, can use it.
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