305th APS improves PAX terminal's family focus

by Pascual Flores
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

2/22/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Personnel from the 305th Aerial Port Squadron conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 12, 2013 for the McGuire Passenger Terminal's newly renovated Family Lounge and Teen Room, here.

The impetus for the renovations came about when for Air Mobility Command Commander Gen. Raymond Johns, identified a number of facility standards discrepancies during his 2010 Pacific and European passenger terminal tours.

Personnel within AMC undertook an effort to standardize terminals around the globe as a result of those observations. Family lounges across 24 Air Force and four Navy locations throughout installations in the Pacific region, Europe and the United States were the primary focus of the standardization efforts.

"Today, we're proud to recognize a much-needed enhancement to the McGuire Passenger Terminal Family Lounge which now includes a Teen Room," said Col. Richard Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander. "This passenger terminal supports an average of over 45,000 passengers a year and many of those passengers are families with children. There is no doubt in my mind that the joint base will remain a gateway for travel in the coming years and that this facility improvement could not have come too soon in support of our valuable men and women in uniform and their families."

The Family Lounge contains new furniture, a television, a play area with toys and books as well as a baby-changing station and cribs.

The Teen Room was added to the second floor mezzanine of the terminal. The room isequipped with a small kitchen area containing tables and chairs, a monitor displaying inbound and outbound flights, a Microsoft Xbox and a foosball table.

"This renovation realizes AMC's commitment to quality facilities," said Maj. Edward Hogan, 305th APS commander. "Any upgrade in support of Department of Defense families and personnel is well worth the investment."

The renovated Family Lounge replaces the 2009 Sesame Workshop's Sesame Room. The Sesame Workshop, a non-profit organization associated with the children's television show "Sesame Street," also launched a project for military families called "Talk, Listen, Connect," in 2006. The project helps children cope with the challenges of military deployments.

The Sesame Room ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 29, 2009, and featured a special dedication to Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Keefer. Keefer, who passed away Jan. 16, 2009, was an active volunteer with the Sesame Workshop during his Air Force career.

"We intend to honor the selfless contributions of Staff Sgt. Keefer through a simple display set aside in the corner of the family lounge which captures the memory of the original renovation and dedication through a photo collage, memorial plaque and retained memorabilia," said Hogan.

Ceremony guests were then permitted to tour the new rooms to get a hands-on review of their features and amenit