Free dinner for single Airmen

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A free dinner for single Airmen, E-4 and below, will be held at the Minuteman Commons Nov. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will feature Thanksgiving-themed food with turkey and all the fixings. In addition, there will be cash prizes, activities such as pool, ping pong, video games and music, and a chance to mingle with other single Airmen.

The idea for a Single Airmen's Dinner came about after senior enlisted leaders decided to revamp the monthly dorm dinner program.

Typically, dorm dinners provide an opportunity for junior enlisted members to meet with senior leaders in a relaxed atmosphere. It gives the younger Airmen a chance to talk to leaders about any concerns they may have and for senior NCOs to get to know dorm residents outside of a work setting.

"The concept for the new format came up during a Shirt (First Sergeants) Council meeting," said Master Sgt. Pattie Hassan, 66th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. "The shirts wanted to come up with a better way for the single Airmen to get to know other enlisted members that may not work in their same units."

During the council meeting, the first sergeants also decided it may be a good idea to open up the dinners to Airmen outside of the dorms.

"Now, single Airmen - whether they live in the dorms, in base housing or off base - can come to the dinners," said Hassan. "It gives them a chance to meet other junior Airmen and it opens up a lot of opportunities."

Senior leaders from across the base will also be invited to attend.

The first sergeants hope this new format will be successful.

"Instead of having monthly dorm dinners, we want to offer the Single Airmen's Dinner quarterly to maximize participation," Hassan said. "But, we'll always be looking for ideas and suggestions from the single Airmen because we're doing this for them."

For further information about the dinner, contact Master Sgt. Ray Merring at 781-377-4222 or any first sergeant at Hanscom.