On college campuses, students have a variety of food options in venues that have a wide range of hours and are easily accessible. With this idea in mind, the Army is expanding different food options to supplement traditional dining facilities, meeting soldiers where they are and providing them the choices they want.

The Army Nonappropriated Fund Contracting Office at Installation Management Command, G9, on behalf of Army Materiel Command, awarded Compass Group USA, Inc a concession contract Aug. 28, to create a unique campus-style dining venue at Forts Bragg, Stewart, Carson, Hood and Drum.

“The Army is focused on creating a positive seismic shift in food service operations,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, Army Materiel Command deputy commanding general and acting commander. “It’s all about taking care of the warfighter by increasing healthier, more easily accessible food options that are convenient to them.”

These new facilities will provide the installations, and soldiers residing in unaccompanied installation housing at those installations, more convenient, affordable and healthy dining options. The initiative responds to Soldier feedback requesting greater variety, flexible hours and improved dining environments.

The campus-style dining venue, or CSDV, pilot will leverage the experience of industry experts to operate dining locations on installations that provide soldiers more options with better service, ambiance and hours. The Army’s vision for the CSDV pilot includes multiple food stations, flexible seating and social spaces, technology integration, and extended hours and service options. The contract includes a five-year base period with five one-year extension options.

The CSDV is part of a larger effort to expand food options for soldiers, including the Flexible Eating and Expanded Dining initiative, meal prep programs, grab-and-go options, kiosks, food trucks and bistros. These options supplement traditional dining facilities, ease the burden on the Army’s culinary specialists, and meet soldier preferences.

In 2024, AMC sent teams to 35 installations across the globe to map their unique food ecosystems. These teams conducted deliberate, holistic assessments to better understand unique food program trends, mission demands and operational tempo concerns, and of course, soldier preferences. These food service experts conducted focus groups and formal surveys, as well as solicited direct feedback from soldiers concerning their dining experience.

“Not every installation is the same, so the Army needs an approach featuring tailorable, scalable options,” Mohan said. “We have to meet soldiers where they are.”

Under the CSDV model, contractors will manage the venue and provide the food, similar to a commercial restaurant, being paid only for the meals served to Soldiers. Other customers, including military dependents, soldiers for Life, Department of Army civilians and contractors, will pay for their own meals. Soldiers will continue to pay the standard discounted meal rate, with any additional costs for premium items charged separately.

As the Army continues to transform, modernizing the Army Food Program is critical.

“We have to ensure our soldiers remain the best-sustained, best-fed and fittest fighting force in the world,” Mohan said.

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Editor’s Note: Story by  Samantha Tyler,  U.S. Army Materiel Command accessed from DVIDS.