Making Meals: 512th Memorial Affairs Squadron feeds the force during wing exercise Published March 7, 2025 By Jeremy Larlee 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Citizen Airmen from the 512th Memorial Affairs Squadron fed 280 people during the March Madness 2025 readiness exercise Feb. 27- March 2 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The 512th MAS team arrived at the Patterson Dining facility at 4 a.m. each day to prepare 1500 box lunches of turkey subs and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The reservists then delivered the meals to various locations across base in support of exercise players. Tech Sgt. Jaylen Spence, 512th MAS dining facility supervisor, said the cold weather and some communication issues were challenging, but he was happy with how everything turned out. “It’s been a lot of hard work and pressure, but it’s been worth it,” he said. “To see everybody come together and have a successful exercise was the best part for me.” Anthony Velazquez, 512th Inspector General director of exercises, said planning for the meals has been ongoing since the fall and sustenance played a key part in the exercise. “The food helped out a lot with keeping morale up,” he said. “Exercises, much like a deployment, can be very difficult and sometimes a meal is the highlight of your day.” Tech. Sgt. Tammy Mendoza, 512th MAS team lead and wing fitness program manager, said she was proud of how her team performed. “They showed great work ethic throughout the exercise,” she said. “There were some early days, but they put the mission first and got it done.” Mendoza said she believed the most challenging aspect was delivering the food to exercise participants. “It was very difficult, because there were a lot of moving pieces and a lot of exercise players that had to be in multiple locations,” she said. “It was by no means perfect, and we definitely learned some things that we can improve on for the next exercise.” In total, the 512th MAS team prepared 1,500 box lunches. It was the last unit training assembly in the 512th Airlift Wing for Spence, and he said it was the perfect way for him to go out. “I have had a great four years here, and I’m going to miss it” he said. “Taking care of people is what drives me. I’m proud of what my team accomplished during this exercise.”