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Video by Airman 1st Class Olivia Monk

Iowa ANG holiday meal is a tradition

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

Dec. 2, 2023 | 1:51

Each year the 185th ARW dining facility serves a traditional holiday meal to Iowa ANG members during the December training weekend.
According to the Unit’s Services Officer, Lt. Jaymes Bral, people are excited for this meal, and it’s a way to celebrate the season

“The December month we always do a big holiday meal,” said Bral. It’s a way to give back to all the members here for all the hard work they do throughout the year. We get a lot of customers that come through the door because everybody gets excited for prime rib.”  

Bral said that the Unit’s dining facility staff put in a lot of extra time and effort to provide the holiday lunch, but the outcome is worth it.

“We were actually here last night putting the prime rib in,” said Bral. “About 8 o’clock we came and prepped all of the prime rib and pork loin and put those in the ovens”

Master Sgt. Shane Potts works as a Civil Engineer for the 185th ARW in Sioux City, Iowa, and he says he looks forward to the meal every year.

“The holiday meal here at the 185th is always fantastic,” said Potts. “The prime rib is delicious.”

Potts said the occasion of the holiday meal is a great way for people to make connections from across the base.  

“There’s a lot of people that don’t come over to the DFAC other than the holiday meal just because it is that good,” said Potts. “It brings everybody together and creates comradery.”

Bral said not only does this meal bring opportunity for a morale boost, but it also provides training for the Unit’s service group.

“It definitely helps with having a more sophisticated meal. We’re able to train on different things with the prepping of the meat and various things like that.”

Senior leaders followed the yearly tradition of serving food to the unit members to continuously boost morale and grow connections.

“Everybody’s able to pull together and come through and work together as a team and ultimately that’s the goal.”

At the Iowa ANG base in Sioux City, IA, I’m Senior Airman Olivia Monk.