Quartermasters rebuild, use mobile kitchen trailer

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 574th Quartermaster Co., 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, line up to get food from the mobile kitchen trailer after the unit's change of command ceremony at Contingency Operating Base Q-West, Feb. 14. This was the first time the MKT had been used by the quartermaster Soldiers after spending hundreds of hours over the past seven months refurbishing the trailer.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

02.21.2009

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq - Soldiers from the 574th Quartermaster Co., 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade cooked out in their newly renovated mobile kitchen trailer at the unit's change of command ceremony here, Feb. 14.

The 574th Quartermasters Co., from Grafenwoehr, Germany, delpoyed to Q-West in late July, and fell in on an MKT that had not been used for over two years. The MKT was covered with dirt, rust, and numerous parts were broken.

Food service specialists from the unit, including Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Atkins-Guehne, Sgt. Thomas Clendening, Pfc. Juan Rodriguez and Pvt. Jean Thermolice, spent hundreds of hours scrubbing and cleaning the equipment. All of the major components of the MKT were replaced, to include the grills racks, ventilation ducts, screens, canopy cover, roadside/curbside skirt, intra-vehicular cable, electrical outlet, and the installation of a new side table among other parts. The Soldiers also ordered new utensils, flatware, along with food and beverage containers.

After the MKT was completely rebuilt, Atkins-Guehne coordinated with Preventative Medicine at COB Q-West to ensure the MKT was certified and ready to provide food service. The MKT was fully refurbished, Jan. 1.

The MKT's first mission was to support a meal after the unit's change of command ceremony. Atkins-Guehne and Capt. Melissa Olendorf, incoming company commander, 574th Quatermaster Co., christened the MKT before food service specialist served steak and chicken meal with sides of baked potatoes, asparagus, pasta and other food.

• Date Taken: 02.21.2009
• Date Posted: 02.21.2009 03:00
• Story ID: 30255
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ