March AFB

Rating: 2-3
Ever since March closed their doors to the active duty, life there has gone downhill. I've been in contact with TSgt Phil Hall, a flight engineer working on the C-141C test program and he assures me that March is the worst of the worst as evidenced by the following e-mail I received from him a couple of days ago. Read on:

March ARB (aka March Field) is NOT the place to get a box lunch.
They're over priced, $5.00 each!  Tend to be hazardous to your health, (we've
had people end up in the hospital from food poisoning).  And you have to order
them 24 hours in advance, no exceptions.
I'd rate them a 2, and that's being very generous.
They are prepackaged "Jimmy Dean" ® sandwich meals. They wouldn't be so bad if
they were kept under proper conditions (like refrigeration...).
So, if you come to see us at our little piece of heaven just 60 miles east of
L.A., bring your own lunch.
TSgt Phil Hall, 729 AS C-141C Flight Engineer

Thanks for the warning Phil! You might want to talk to them about the pricing, since the cost of a box lunch is supposed to be mandated by congress.

12/06/99: Recieved the following update from Phil Hall out there in March:

Well, the box nasty selection at March has improved. There are now two choices. The first choice is the ever unpopular Jimmy Dean prepackaged meals, but at least they're kept refrigerated (i.e., frozen) now. The second choice is a Chefs Salad. This little number comes with a salad with a little bit of everything in there. Ham, turkey, hard boiled eggs, carrot sticks and even lettuce. Your choice of dressing. Just tell them what kind you want when you order it. Also has a soft drink, can of juice, short bread, saltines, granola bar and pudding. Now the fun part. The prices are now $6.00 and you still have to order them the day before. Now about the price. Since we don't have a "real" in-flight kitchen, the meals are provided by the Hap Arnold Club which is the only dining facility on base. That's how they get away with the price. They don't come from an in-flight kitchen so the price mandated by congress doesn't apply. Nice racket, huh.