50-plus year old DMZ DFAC gets first renovation

By In J. Son, LRC - Red Cloud Food ProgramMay 27, 2015

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP RED CLOUD, Republic of Korea -- The Logistics Readiness Center-Red Cloud, 403rd Army Field Support Brigade, manages the dining facility (DFAC) at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North Korea and the Republic of Korea. It is the only food source for the 35 U.S. Soldiers assigned to the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area (JSA) at Camp Bonifas, Panmunjom.

The JSA DFAC was built in the late 1950s and has never been renovated. The Daelim Construction Company was contracted to perform the construction, gutting the facility to make way for a state-of-the-art DFAC.

The roof was raised 6-feet to provide an open venue with skylights. The new facility is also energy-efficient with a back-up generator for power in case of emergency.

The construction team worked around-the-clock to complete the project ahead of schedule since the DFAC is the only place Soldiers can eat when stationed at the DMZ. During the DFAC closure, the 210th Fires Brigade from Camp Casey delivered hot food to the Soldiers at the JSA twice a week and shuttles ran back and forth to the Warrior Base DFAC at Camp Casey.

"The renovation is a long time coming," said Capt. Cesar Aries, JSA, logistics, (S-4). "It will boost the morale of the Soldiers that depend on the DFAC to provide their meals since there are no other food establishments at the JSA compound."

The new facility not only houses the DFAC, but the Post Exchange, barber shop and a weight room.

The renovation project is being funded from the Logistic Cost Sharing Program in which both nations, the Republic of Korea and the U.S., will pay a pre-determined percentage.

Construction crews broke ground on this project in November 2014 and completed the work in May 2015.