Airmen's Pit dishes up place for service members to unwind

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Equipped with television screens, karaoke machines, arcade games, a restaurant, grill and bar, Airmen at Travis Air Force Base are fortunate to have a lounge to relax and build camaraderie during their off-time.

However, the best attribute The Airmen's Pit has to offer is the accessibility to Airmen.
Cynthia Craner, bartender, waitress and cashier at the Airmen's Pit has worked at the establishment for approximately three years.

"It's a little place of home for people in the dorms. A place where they can unwind, relax and have a good meal," Craner said.

Because of the location and vicinity to the dorms, if Airmen choose to have a drink they can walk home, Craner said. The accessibility of the Airmen's Pit is crucial. It keeps safety a priority and eliminates the necessity to drive.

Tim Khlen, retired C-5 Galaxy crew chief with the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, served in the Air Force for 22 years before coming into ownership of the Pit.

"When I was given the opportunity to take this place over I was filled with joy because now I could give back to the Airmen," he said. "I was brought back to my roots."

In addition to the ladies night, karaoke night and many other events the Pit already offers, the lounge has a set up of televisions that always have the big sports game on.

Airman 1st Class Jimmy Pascal, 9th Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 boom operator, inhabits the Airmen's Pit to relax and watch the UFC fights.

"The Pit is a good place to blow off some steam after a long days work," he said. "It's a good deterrent to keeping Airmen from driving while under the influence. It's so much easier to just walk here."

During holiday events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day and July 4th the Pit sets up buffet style dining with home-cooked food to cater to the Airmen who are not always able to make it home.

"The Pit is a good place to meet with friends," Pascal said. "You can meet up at the Pit, have a good time, create some esprit de corps and walk home together. It's a morale booster and everyone gets home safe."

"We are here to keep Travis members safe by offering a safe environment and to give
Airmen that option of not drinking and driving," Khlen said.

Though the Pit's main audience is the Airmen on base, the establishment welcomes any individual who has base access.

"The Pit is for everyone to enjoy," Khlen said. "Remember, everyone in the Air Force is an Airman, a lot of people forget that. It's for everyone to come out and enjoy."