Marines vie for ‘Best Mess Hall’ award

Photo By Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | Phil Hickey, an inspector for the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill award, inspects the Marines of Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, during the final round of the competition, Dec. 20. Competitors are judged on areas such as operations, sanitation, taste and quality of food.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

12.20.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin 

1st Marine Logistics Group

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Inspectors for the Best Marine Corps Field Mess competition visited Camp Bloodstripe aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 20, to inspect during the final round of this year’s Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Award. Camp Bloodstripe is a field mess established by Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

The W.P.T. Hill Award was established in 1985 to improve food service operations and recognizes the best garrison and field mess in the Marine Corps. Competitors are judged on areas such as operations, sanitation, taste and quality of food.

“We worked very hard all week to get all this set up.” said Cpl. Tony Pressley, food service specialist, Food Service Company, CLR-17, 1st MLG. “We took the things from the practice run and improved on them for the real compitition.”

The Marines constructed multiple tents consisting of a kitchen tent, a serving tent and a dining area tent.There was also a perimeter set up along with security to simulate an actual field mess.

The evaluation process for commands competing in the field mess category includes site selection and layout, management, personnel accounting and cash collection, sanitation, food preparation, equipment and maintenance, storage and receiving, and financial accounting.

The menu items included beef stew, shrimp creole, rice, mashed potatoes, biscuits, corn bread, gravy, mixed vegetables and various desserts.

“I’ve seen some of the best field messes around,” said Phil Hickey, one of the inspectors for the W.P.T. Hill Award. “I know all around that the Marines are well fed. Everyone did a great job here.”
The winner for the best field mess in the Marine Corps is scheduled to be announced in January.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2010
• Date Posted: 03.09.2011 13:23
• Story ID: 66728
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US