MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- 
Services personnel assigned to the 184th Wing’s Force Support Squadron reopened the Jayhawk Roost dining facility during the March 6-7 drill weekend at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.
The last time the Roost opened for dining was during the summer of 2019.
Pictured: Senior Airman Aimee Maldonado, 184th Force Support Squadron
During that time, the building was undergoing construction projects to update the interior and exterior, and install new heating and air condition systems.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020 led to further delays due to safety restrictions that prevented indoor dining and mass gatherings.
Tech. Sgt. Julie Herndon was the shift leader during the reopening.
“As we saw the 22nd Air Refueling Wing open back up and how they did things, and how other bases are doing it with their dining facilities, we tried to mirror how they’re reopening,” said Herndon.
Pictured: Tech. Sgt. Julie Herndon, 184th Force Support Squadron
The Roost wasn’t fully opened to its normal capacity. Dining options were limited to grab-and-go bagged lunches and the dining area was still unavailable for sit-down eating.
Food preparations began around 6:45 a.m. and the Airmen finished clean-up around 2 p.m. According to Herndon, the hard work and long days boosted morale and revived the team.
Pictured: Senior Airman Payton Elliott, 184th Force Support Squadron
“We always like cooking together. It brings our team together,” said Herndon. “When we’re in there, we all have a job to do; we all work as a team and doing that together always brings us closer.”
Services plans to host a grand reopening later this year.
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