CityView Magazine

46 | November/December 2016 Top: Ralph Hinrichs, veteran and retired defense contractor, volunteers at the USO and enjoys swapping stories with soldiers. Above: The Fayetteville Regional Airport offers plenty of amenities to service members, like the USO and the military liaison office. Photos by Matthew Wonderly military retirees and their families a comfortable space to wait while at the airport between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. e USO Travel Center is behind security, and Renee Lane, Director of the USO of North Caroli- na at the Fayetteville Regional Airport, said, "We offer Community coffee, snacks, bottled water, two Lenovo computers with CAC access, AT&T charging stations, TV, a separate area for families with children, travel supplies, phones, reading material and community information." e USO is completely staffed by volunteers. Ralph Hinrichs, a retired veteran and defense contractor who has volunteered at the USO for over a year, en - joys swapping stories and common experiences with soldiers young and old. "We can kick the gravel a little bit," he mentioned, smiling. Flying local When asked how the airport fared during Hur- ricane Matthew, Coleman reported, "We really fared extremely well." Not only is flying in and out of the Fayetteville Regional Airport convenient, but it also supports a local business. "You will find that the Fay- etteville Regional Airport has pretty competitive pric- ing, too," he added. ough the Fayetteville Regional Airport isn't a large airport, it will get busier during the influx of holi- day travelers, and Whited has his holiday advice. "It's very important during the holidays, especially for the 6 a.m. flight, to come two hours before the flight leaves." He advises travelers to know weight restrictions and baggage fees for the airline they are flying, and since regulations are always changing, he recommends checking tsa.gov to familiarize yourself with what you can and cannot bring through security. If you have furry friends traveling with you or fam - ily members who may require special care, Whited said this won't be an issue. "Airlines are happy to accommo- date travelers with mobility issues and those traveling with pets, just make your request at the time you buy the ticket." As you plan your holiday travels, if you are military, going through security just got easier. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now accepts all ac- tive duty military ID cards as qualification for TSA Pre-Check. Be sure to use your military ID when you check-in for your boarding pass. If you are not active duty military, you can apply for TSA Pre-Check on their website TSA.gov/precheck. Whether you are flying in or out, greeting family and friends or exploring new travel destinations in the new year, keep the Fayetteville Regional Airport in mind. Coleman stated, "When you choose to fly through your hometown airport, you are supporting a local business, which means more opportunities for us to continue to make [the airport] great." CV

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