Dining facility in Qatar competes for Connelly

Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Sgt. Kayamisha Esteves, from Slidell, La., discusses the Camp As Sayliyah dining facility food service with James Riddle, International Food Service Executives Association representative, at the U.S. installation in Qatar, on Dec. 6. The dining facility was inspected as one of eight finalists for the Department of the Army Phillip A. Connelly Award. This is the first time an Army dining facility in Southwest Asia became a Department of the Army finalist for excellence in food preparation and service. The other finalists in the large garrison category are located in: Europe, Korea, Hawaii, Washington, Georgia, Virginia and Texas.  

CAMP AS SALIYAH, QATAR

12.06.2007

Story by Dustin Senger 

Area Support Group - Qatar

By DUSTIN SENGER
ASG-QA Public Affairs

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – On Dec. 6, the Area Support Group Qatar dining facility became the first installation in Southwest Asia to be inspected for a Department of the Army Phillip A. Connelly Award for excellence in food service and preparation. ASG-QA supports a large base populace with various tenant units. The command also executes the U.S. Central Command Rest and Recuperation Pass Program, participants in Qatar for a brief respite from operations in the area of responsibility, to include Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Camp As Sayliyah is located in Qatar, a Gulf State peninsula protruding from Saudi Arabia's eastern coastline.

Through 2007, ASG-QA spent well over $200,000 to provide renovations and improvements to the facility. On Dec. 3, the command was presented with the Third Army Connelly Award. This recognition qualified the dining facility to compete for the Department of the Army award in the large garrison category, troop feeding facilities with daily head counts over 300 patrons.

"This is the first time an evaluation has ever been done in Southwest Asia" said Sgt. Maj. L'Tanya Williams, the Phillip A. Connelly Award project manager from Fort Bliss, Texas. "Area Support Group Qatar made history in food service." Williams was joined by a senior food service warrant officer and an International Food Service Executives Association representative.

"We travel all over the world to judge the eight finalists," said James Riddle from the IFSEA. The other premier feeding facilities are located in: Europe, Korea, Hawaii, Washington, Georgia, Virginia and Texas. The IFSEA is a professional organization dedicated to raising food service industry standards, educating members and future industry leaders, as well as recognizing member achievements. Organized in 1901, it is the food service industry's oldest trade association.

Williams insists, regardless of location, all facilities are graded using the same checklist. Areas of inspection include: food preparation, service, sanitation, administration, troop acceptability, training programs and command support.

"I believe every option should be available to the troops coming to Camp As Sayliyah for rest and relaxation," said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Gillis, U.S. Army Special Operations Command food advisor, in regards to the numerous troops participating everyday in the USCENTCOM relaxation program in Qatar. "I have spoken to well over a hundred people since we arrived. They all tell me it's never a bad day here. The staff has a great attitude and aims to please – from the front to the back door."

According to Williams, most of the Army dining facilities in Southwest Asia are entirely managed by contractors; which would require a separate award category. Since Camp As Sayliyah is a team of contractors and service members, it is comparable to other large garrison facilities in the United States.

"I was not surprised," said Gillis, regarding the Qatar installation placing as a finalist, "I was very pleased Southwest Asia finally got the opportunity to be represented – everyone does a great job, all the time."

• Date Taken: 12.06.2007
• Date Posted: 12.06.2007 11:58
• Story ID: 14476
• Location: CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA