Photo By Sgt. Marco Gutierrez | Pfc. Jessica Bernhardt a food service specialist with the 383rd Quarter Master Company...... read more read more
FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The task of feeding 1,000 people for breakfast and dinner can be a daunting task for any well experience catering service. For the soldiers of the 302nd Quarter Master Company out of Barrigada, Guam, and 383rd Quarter Master Company out of St. Charles, Missouri, it’s just another day. Soldiers from the 302nd QM CO and 383rd QM CO are working together to feed soldiers in the field for the Quartermaster Liquid Logistic Exercise in Fort Lewis. The exercise includes over 900 soldiers that will require meals out in the field for over ten days. While the task of feeding so many soldiers can be difficult, it’s one that both the 383rd and the 302nd are willing to take head on with a passion to cook and feed hungry soldiers.
During the QLLEX mission the 302nd QM CO and the 383rd QM CO are getting some help from some impressive Army equipment. Both units will be training and working out of a Containerized Kitchen which has the capability to feed 1000 to 5000 soldiers compared to the Mobile Kitchen Trailer which can only feed 300 soldiers max, explains Staff Sgt. Bernice Tesei a food service specialist with the 302nd QM CO. Tesei explains that when it comes to compering the CK to other cooking equipment in the field such as the MKT is like comparing a flip phone to a smart phone they are worlds apart. Tesei also commented on the challenge of feeding so many soldiers in the field is the food temperature, and being able to get the food out in the time allowed to keep the food temperature from dropping and to avoid contamination. This issue is completely solved with the CK drastically cutting coking time, and getting food out faster. “I enjoy this exercise since it give us a chance to work with the CK.” said Tesei.
The QLLEX mission is doing more than just training soldiers, it’s also given them a chance to experience new things and learn different cultures. Corporal Juan Blackmon a food service specialist with the 383rd QM CO said “What I like about this exercise is being able to diverse with units from somewhere else, like the unit from Guam.” This QLLEX mission is the first in which Blackmon has worked with the 302nd QM CO. At the same time Pfc. Jessica Bernhardt a service food specialist with the 383rd QM CO is also enjoying the diversity in which both units are working and learning about a new culture. Bernhardt explains that It’s great working with a unit from Guam learning about their culture has been a positive experience during the exercise. Bernhardt added “I’ve really learned a lot about their culture and, it’s helped me grow as a person during this exercise.”
When it comes to having a passion for cooking both the 302nd and the 383rd are in no short supply since many of their soldiers chose the Military Occupation Specialty simply for the joy of cooking. Sgt. Carlos Aguero a food service specialist with the 302nd QM CO said, “Out of this exercise what I have loved most is cooking for the soldiers, and all the other units that are here.”
When asked why she chose the food service specialist MOS Tesei said, “I love cooking, and everything that the Army has thought me I have been able to use in my everyday life especially that sanitation is extremely important.” Blackmon with a big smile on his face and with a positive attitude simply said, “I just like to cook all around.”
So whether they are feeding 100 or 5000 soldiers, the soldiers of the 302nd QM CO and the 383rd QM CO will gladly be serving food to hungry soldiers in need of a hot meal while they train in the field. They will be doing it with new modern equipment, a passion for cooking, attitude that will bring excellent food service training to the QLLEX mission. As well as give both units a chance to train young soldiers, perfecting current MOS skills, and learning from one another. While food service specialist maybe overlooked sometime by hungry soldier Bernhardt said, “ Army cooks works very hard too, so definitely don’t take them for granted.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2014 10:59 |
| Story ID: | 132550 |
| Location: | FORT LEWIS, WA, US |
| Hometown: | BARRIGADA, GU |
| Hometown: | ST. CHARLES, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Food Service Specialist Learning From One Another, by SGT Marco Gutierrez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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