GW supply department hurdles over inspection to the Ney Race

SULU SEA, AT SEA

10.17.2014

Courtesy Story

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Beverly J. Lesonik,
USS George Washington Public Affairs

SULU SEA – The supply department aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) underwent an annual Type Commander Assist Visit (TAV) inspection, Oct. 12-16.

The TAV inspection will determine if George Washington will qualify as the “Best in the West” aircraft carrier in food service, a title that goes a long way toward winning the coveted Capt. Edward F. Ney award.

“This is also our qualifying inspection for a chance to win the Ney award,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian Ware, George Washington’s food services officer. “The Ney award is the most prestigious award in Navy food service. We were finalists last year, and we hope to make it this year.”

Inspectors graded all 10 of the ship’s food supply rooms that store approximately 4.2 million dollars in food, evaluated the cleanliness of the galleys and mess decks and received evaluations from the crew on overall food quality.

“The most important part of our job in food service is whether Sailors ‘buy in’ to the food we provide them,” said Ware. “The inspectors gave out 50 surveys to random Sailors and not one of them was negative.”

According to Ware, constant preparation was required for this year’s inspection. There were many field day sanitations, nightly cleanings and routine medical inspections in the galleys.

“We have been preparing for this since last year’s inspection,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Gregory Paulo, from San Diego. “It is part of our daily tasks to perform proper inventory, sanitation, accountability and update financial records. ”

All of George Washington’s Supply department, including culinary specialists, food service attendants, logistic specialists and temporarily assigned Sailors from different departments worked toward the common goal of earning the Ney award.

“Supply department worked hard to bring the inspection to a higher standard,” said Paulo.

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2014
• Date Posted: 10.17.2014 11:31
• Story ID: 145332
• Location: SULU SEA, AT SEA