Photo By Sgt. Zoe Garbarino | Soldiers with the 3rd Infantry Division eat a Thanksgiving Day lunch at the Marne...... read more read more
Subscribe
Fort Stewart is in the process of modernization through the testing of a new dining facility (DFAC) web application, aimed at enhancing the meal-ordering experience for Soldiers. The initiative, spearheaded by the Marne Innovation Center, is currently undergoing its first round of user testing.
First Lieutenant Peter Pappalardo, a Soldier from 3rd Sustainment Brigade, and project manager for the dining facility app, explained how the app works.
“Once the clerk sees an online order, they notify the other workers that there is an online order ready for pickup,” said Pappalardo. “They write the name on a bag, they go pick up the ordered items, then they will bag it up and put it in the reserved online order refrigerator. Then the Soldier who ordered will come in, ask for their online order, get the bag with their name and then come and check out at the counter.”
The idea for the app stemmed from Soldiers who sought a more efficient way to utilize DFAC services.
“We reached out to the 18th Airborne Corps and some of the other divisions across the Army,” explained First Lieutenant Brenden Shutt, Innovation Officer with the Marne Innovation Center. “Some people had pursued a DFAC app before, but none were really successful or widely implemented.”
The app allows soldiers to place meal orders remotely, reducing wait times and streamlining the dining experience.
“After making an account, you can log in, select the DFAC you’re attending, place an order, and pick it up at a designated area,” Pappalardo explained. “In the future, there will be features like hours of operation, menu availability, and real-time inventory updates.”
“Soldiers have expressed nothing but positivity,” Shutt noted. “They already have enough work in a day. A little bit of convenience like this can actually go a long way.”
The testing phase has involved a controlled rollout at the Culinary Outpost on Fort Stewart. “We requested 20 soldiers to test the app each day, but we’re also seeing soldiers join in willingly,” Pappalardo said. “We collect data through surveys and one-on-one discussions to get real personal feedback.”
Despite the enthusiasm, there have been minor technical challenges that will be sorted out in the future. “Some users report conflicting information between their email and account,” Shutt said. “But these are technical errors we’re already addressing.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand the app’s capabilities such as availability numbers and nutrition macros. “The next stage is to bring it to the Rocky Warrior Restaurant for further testing,” Pappalardo stated. “We’re taking a deliberate design approach, testing incrementally before a larger rollout.”
As Fort Stewart continues its modernization efforts, initiatives like the DFAC web app demonstrate the 3rd Infantry Division’s commitment to improving quality of life for soldiers.
“Everything we’re doing here isn’t necessarily new,” Shutt remarked. “What’s new is integrating this kind of process into DFAC operations. It’s going to take time, but the benefits will be worth it.”
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2025 13:41 |
| Story ID: | 490489 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New Marne DFAC app helps modernize DFAC services, by SPC Benjamin Hale, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
