Bronco DFAC wins 'Best Mess'

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller congratulates soldiers and civilians from the Bronco Café, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, on a job well done winning the Thanksgiving Best Dining Facility Award on Dec 14th.  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

12.14.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Cashmere He 

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - The 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s Bronco Café was awarded the 25th Infantry Division Commanding General’s Best Dining Facility or “Best Mess” of the Quarter Dec. 14, here, by Maj. Gen. William Fuller, commander of the Tropic Lightning.

This year’s competition featured all four dining facilities (DFACs) on Schofield Barracks and while the competition was close, the Bronco’s edge-out 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s Warrior DFAC for the win.

“In my Army career, cooks have never gotten the praise they deserve for what they do and yet are put in difficult positions all the time with a huge responsibility,” said Fuller. “You guys make it happen and I couldn’t be prouder of what the Bronco DFAC has accomplished.”

Soldiers of the Bronco Café team redeployed from 30 days of training at the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii’s Big Island just days before the competition, showing that hard work and dedication to duty truly pays off.

Spc. Felipe Abraham, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3BCT, 25ID, took center stage with his award winning centerpiece, a teepee exhibit he said reminded him of all the joyous brotherhood and diversity he experiences each Thanksgiving Day. He added that his inspiration came from the celebrations of Indian heritage back home.

The Bronco Café team received accolades from Col. Brian S. Eifler, commander of the Bronco Brigade, who stressed his gratitude for their long hours, hard work, and the team’s presentation.

“I cannot underscore enough the impact that you all have made, it really shocked a lot of families,” he said.

Sgt. 1st Class Joe Hill, 3BSTB, 3BCT, 25ID, was recognized for his management of the winning team.

Hill pointed out the hard work his cooks put into the planning, preparation, and decorations for the DFAC that he hoped would ensure the families of the Bronco Brigade experienced a true harvest festival, and according to Hill, that mission was complete.

“I decided that we were going to take initiative to make (this holiday) nice for everyone even though we didn’t have one hundred percent of our cooks here,” said Hill. “We knew our brigade was coming home from PTA, and we were determined to make it special for them.”

• Date Taken: 12.14.2012
• Date Posted: 12.19.2012 16:14
• Story ID: 99555
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US