Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, can now use their meal entitlements at participating Exchange restaurants through the Flexible Eating and Expanded Dining Program.
Pfc. Michael L. Harris and Pfc. Foster L. Micah were the first to use the program Tuesday, purchasing meals at Burger King, according to a Fort Hood Exchange Facebook post.
“FEED is the epitome of having our soldiers be able to use their entitlement and expand their selection and their choices,” said Denise Hunter, senior vice president of the Services and Food Directorate for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, during the program’s launch at the base. “Our service members deserve the best. You’re giving them the best.”
Through the program, soldiers can use their military ID cards to purchase preselected meals at participating on-base restaurants operated by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, including Charleys Cheesesteaks, Starbucks and Subway.
Fort Stewart, Ga., became the first installation to offer the option at Exchange restaurants in August.
The program was first tested last year at Fort Hood during a two-week pilot to ensure that the payment systems worked properly with the Army’s systems for providing meal entitlements to eligible soldiers. That payment system was then implemented by Compass Group USA, the company hired to open the Army’s first five privately run dining facilities.
FEED is part of the Army’s broader effort to improve soldiers’ access to food on bases and provide more ways to use their meal entitlements.