New community center opens at JB San Antonio-Lackland

by Minnie Jones
433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/15/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND  -- Selrico Services, Inc. invited members of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to a tour and taste event at a brand new community center and dining facility, Feb. 13.

The $175,000 renovated structure is two facilities in one -  a community center named the "Gott Commons Community Center" and the "Heroes" restaurant, or "Heroes at the Gott Commons." Both facilities are located in the old Rodney Gott Dining facility on Security Hill.

The Gott Dining Facility closed Feb. 1, 2012. According to the Department of Defense, over the last decade the Air Force has closed approximately 49 dining facilities, in some cases due to under use. The Gott Dining facility fell prey to Air Force closures, thus leaving a void on Security Hill and to the Guard and Reserve components located on the other side of the hill.

Selrico Services, Inc. is a global, full-service contractor, offering services that range from food services, to providing permanent and temporary facility solutions and operations, base operating support services, and contingency/life support solutions.

The 8,200 square-foot facility provides servicemembers and civilians assigned on the "Hill" and to the Air Force Reserve and the Texas Air National Guard with a wide variety of food and services all in one place without traveling to Lackland proper. The facility accomdate 185 people.

"The Force Support Squadron is proud to bring leisure and dining opportunity to JBSA-Lackland," said Debbie Milner, 802nd Force Support Squadron marketing director. "Customers will find a beautifully renovated facility featuring stacked stone walls, granite counter tops, and a water feature. It's a great place to unwind from the hectic pace of the day."

Security Hill is home to numerous units, such as Air Force Space Command's 24th Air Force and the 67th Network Warfare Wing and Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency.

The "Heroes at the Gott" will offer breakfast and lunch, with a choice of healthy food options; grilled foods, Mexican and Italian cuisine, and a carving station.

Other amenities include, free Wi-Fi, a sports bar and "The Grind," a coffee and grab-and-go bar that offers Starbuck products. The resource area include a reading area, where people can swap magazines and books, information on FSS leisure activities, three computers with a direct link to JBSAtravel.com and a meeting space that can be reserved during breakfast and lunch hours.

It will also give servicemembers living in the dorms a place to eat and go after work.

"The main thing is that this is a partnership between us (Selrico Services, Inc.) and the Air Force project," said Rick Aleman, President, Selrico Services, Inc. "What we were trying to do here is to give Airmen a different feel, a different atmosphere, so they can relax here - it's all about having fun and relaxing."