Photo By Master Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr. | Akemi Nashiro, food service employee for Mess Hall 1223, sanitizes a refrigerator unit...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - In August, Mess Hall 1223 here was recognized as being the best dining facility on Okinawa and was selected to represent Marine Corps Bases Japan in the 2011 Maj. Gen. W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards Program for Food Service Excellence.
The choice to nominate the 3rd Marine Logistics Group Mess Hall paid off, according to a Naval message released Jan. 31, announcing the dining facility as the 2011 Maj. Gen. W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards Program’s best Military/Contractor Garrison Mess Hall in the Corps.
The Maj. Gen. W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards Program was established in 1985 and is designed to improve food service operation and recognizes the best messes Marine Corps-wide.
This award recognizes a culmination of hard work and dedication sustained over a period of time, according to Capt. LaKendrick D. Wright, company commander for Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd MLG.
“Mess Halls undergo a series of evaluations and inspections to become eligible to compete as the best of the best,” he said. “The Marines and [Master Labor Contractors] of Camp Kinser’s Mess Hall earned every bit of that title.”
During the competition, Mess Halls were judged in areas such as operations, sanitation, taste and quality of food. According to Staff Sgt. Robert J. Hastings, the chief cook for Mess Hall 1223, the inspectors struggled to find any discrepancies during their visit last year.
“We were inspected from top to bottom and the only discrepancy found was a clock with the incorrect time,” he said proudly.
Assistant chief cook, Cpl. Julio Castro, said the leadership set the standard for the Mess Hall operations.
“In the past year I’ve been here, our leadership has sharpened our skills and put very high demands on us to offer the best possible facility we could,” he said. “We owe it all to our [staff non-commissioned officer] leadership.”
Hastings, a 19-year food service specialist who has competed for the award in the past but never won, said the entire staff of 26 Marines and 33 MLCs contributed to the success of the Mess Hall.
“Our team is great,” he said. “We all try our best to offer a friendly, professional environment for our patrons to enjoy.
“Being on Okinawa poses some unique challenges for Marines and they often cannot get around as easily as Marines in the [U.S.]. That’s why we work so hard to make [the mess hall] a place where Marines can come and enjoy their meals.”
Frequent patrons, Lance Cpl. Nikolai Gilbert and Lance Cpl. Miguel Rodriguez said they are not surprised the dining facility won.
“The quality of food is amazing,” said Gilbert adding the environment adds to his enjoyment. “It’s a great place to come and feel at home. The TVs are always on either the news or sports, which allows us an opportunity to stay abreast of what’s going on around the world.”
For Rodriguez, the staff makes the difference.
He said the staff is always professional and they try to satisfy all of the Marines whenever and however they can.
The Kinser Mess Hall will be recognized May 21, 2011 during the National Restaurant Association awards ceremony in Chicago.
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.11.2011 02:33 |
| Story ID: | 65217 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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