Café provides comfort zone

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  North Star Café provides single Airmen with a place where they can relax and socialize after duty hours in a safe environment.

Airmen living in dormitories can enjoy the sights and sounds of a lounge conveniently located in the basement of building 2333. Many do not even have to leave their building.

Also called the Airmen's Café, it usually opens in fall and remains open until the warmth of summer invites Airmen to try activities elsewhere. It's run by chapel staff with additional help from about fifty volunteers, emphasized Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Navarrete, 354th Fighter Wing Chapel Services Catholic Priest.

"We wanted to create an environment that is warm and inviting where Airmen can gather," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Varner, 354th Fighter Wing Chapel Services, NCO in charge of Chapel Operations. "Activities and events can be difficult to get to sometimes, especially in the winter when it gets so cold. Even those who have a car with the capability to go downtown may not want to when temperatures reach forty degrees below zero."

The whole purpose behind the creation of the Airman's Café was to give young Airmen a place to get together and make the most out of their time here.

The Airman's Café doesn't just serve coffee; it also supports different events throughout the course of the year. One event is an Airman's dinner sponsored by different squadrons each month to provide dinner for single Airmen who live in the dorms.

November's monthly Airman's dinner is scheduled to have a Thanksgiving theme.
"The Airman's dinner is an atmosphere that allows Airman to take a break from their normal routine and seize the opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of their wingmen," said Father Navarrete.

Events in the past have included ice cream socials and pizza parties, and this year an XBOX Madden '11 Tournament was held on Oct. 15 to ready Airmen for the North Star Café kick-off.

In the summer when the Café was closed, base leadership used the time to make sure the Café met Airman's needs before this year's annual kick-off. Upgrades done to the Café included the addition of new televisions, a hotdog machine, and a popcorn machine.

Upgrades aren't the only things that keep the Café alive; volunteers are another driving force behind this program.

"We have volunteers from all ranks," said Father Navarrete. "There are staff sergeants, some technical sergeants, and we also have a chief master sergeant who is a volunteer."

Although senior ranks may not benefit directly from the Café, enlisted and officer personnel can reap rewards by helping.

Volunteers get to see what the Café offers young Airmen. Supervisors can interact with Airmen away from the job; it gives them a chance to take care of Airmen off-duty.

"We rely on volunteers pretty heavily," said Sergeant Varner. "I love having our Junior NCOs in the Airman's Café. It's good because they see what's going on and are available as mentors to the young Airmen."

Overall, younger Airmen enjoy the convenient locale and friendly environment said both Father Navarrete and Sergeant Varner. The Café addresses the social needs of Airmen and increases morale.

The North Star Café is open from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 pm. to provide various forms of leisure and entertainment at no cost. Of course, the mission comes first, but Airmen are encouraged to take advantage of programs like this one, as well as other local opportunities.