Feeding the Troops with Military Dining Facilities

Military dining facilities are an essential part of any military base camp or forward operating site (FOS). They’re typically deployable and serve as a safe space protected from the elements for troops to rest, eat, and socialize during mealtimes or group gatherings. 

Military DFAC Meaning: What Is a DFAC?

A military dining facility, also known as DFAC, is an official term of the United States Army and Air Force. Other branches of the military such as the Marines and Navy may also refer to military dining facilities as “chow halls” or “galleys.” 

A DFAC is a designated space where meals are served to soldiers and various military personnel. 

Soldiers in the Army are often put on duty as kitchen patrol while kitchen staff cook, prepare, and serve large quantities of food to troops. You’ll typically find a cafeteria-style serving area in a DFAC with groupings of tables and chairs for troops to sit and eat.

[Related: U.S. Marines Can Benefit From Highly Portable Fabric Buildings]

Types of Military DFACs

Mobile Field Kitchens and Battle Kitchens (BK)

Most military bases require modular kitchen facilities to prepare and cook food served in a DFAC. Mobile field kitchens, also known as a battle kitchen (BK), can feed up to three meals per day to 300 military personnel, or between 100 to 200 troops. 

A BK is typically connected to a trailer with a mount and transported using a military vehicle such as a light-medium tactical vehicle (LMTV). These are great assets for remote military operations, field training sites, or even disaster zones because they’re easy to pack up and relocate.

Alaska Defense^® (Alaska) offers mobile field kitchens that have attach points for helicopter lifts if troops are in disaster areas or deployed in remote locations. A BK uses either solid fuel or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and is configured with 272,000 British thermal unit (BTU) burners, as well as stainless steel counters and cooktops.

Containerized Kitchen Unit (CK)

A containerized kitchen unit (CK) is another type of mobile kitchen facility for meal preparation and cooking. Combining multiple CKs can form a modular kitchen setup. A CK with four units from Alaska Defense can serve up to 2,000 meals per day. 

Additionally, a CK features more appliances than a BK. These can include a grill, fry, and boil and bake systems alongside steel countertops. The containerized kitchen unit can be equipped with an HVAC system, exhaust hoods, fire suppression systems, dry storage, refrigeration, convection ovens for faster and more even cooking.

Whether you have a BK or CK, they’re usually connected to a DFAC or installed right next to it. 

Expandable BICON Kitchen Unit with DFAC

The Expandable BICON Kitchen Unit with DFAC from Alaska Defense^® bridges the gap between mobile field kitchens like the Battle Kitchen (BK) and larger Containerized Kitchen Units (CKUs). Designed for speed, efficiency, and flexibility, two personnel can rapidly deploy the expandable BICON kitchen in under nine minutes. Once on-site, fold-out or expanding walls nearly triple the internal workspace, enabling military personnel to prepare and serve multiple hot meals daily for 150 to 200 individuals—depending on ration type, including UGR-A, UGR H&S, or raw rations.

Connected to a temperature-controlled 20’ x 39’ Alaska Shelter System™, the integrated DFAC (Dining Facility) provides a clean, comfortable, and secure environment for troop dining. The system includes three vestibule entries, energy-efficient lighting, and is heated or cooled by a single 5-ton Alaska ECU^®. This modular solution is ideal for remote operations, contingency missions, or base expansion scenarios where scalability, speed, and morale-boosting hot meals are essentia

Handwashing Stations

The handwashing stations within CKs are prioritized for military personnel assigned to clean, prepare, and cook food. Soldiers and other various military members not involved in food preparation benefit from their own handwashing stations within the DFAC.

Alaska Defense provides portable handwashing stations, which are easy to install within our military shelter systems and use water from local water sources or nearby water bladders. 

[Related: A Few Applications of Our Structures]

Military Shelters for DFACs

Fabric structures are the ideal building solution to use for a military DFAC. They’re rapidly deployable and feature an unmatched strike capability when orders to relocate are received.  

The AK40™ and AK30™ military shelter systems from Alaska Defense^® are commonly used as dining facilities on military bases and forward operating sites. They utilize tensioned fabric membranes and high-strength metal frame systems to provide a safe space protected from extreme weather conditions.  

The AK40™ is a 40’ wide military shelter with a peak height of 20’ and lengths from 30’ to 120’. The AK30™ is a Multipurpose Shelter System (MSS) and features a width of 30’, a peak height of 15’, and is configurable to lengths from 32.5′ to 65′. 

The AK40™ military shelter from Alaska Defense used as a DFAC.

30’ wide Alaska Military Shelter with an Alaska ECU^® attached.

The AK40™ and the AK30™ can be equipped with an optional window and door packages, as well as interior lighting and electrical systems, flooring systems, ECUs, and power generation and distribution systems.

Having rapidly deployable dining facilities that can accommodate various numbers is an important military base feature since troop sizes are always changing. Military shelters from Alaska Defense^® are easily complexed to create larger dining facilities. 

[Related: Main Benefits of High-Grade Military Tents]

Feed the Troops with Military DFACs from Alaska Defense^®

When readiness depends on nourishment, Alaska Defense® delivers. Our containerized kitchen units, mobile field kitchens, and military shelter systems provide scalable, reliable, and rapidly deployable solutions for feeding personnel anywhere in the world.

Contact us today to learn how we can support your military dining and kitchen operations.