CPT Monte Hibbert
116th BCT Public Affairs
FOB McHENRY, Iraq- Mess section soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team's Task Force 1-163 Infantry are making much more than meals here, they're making friends and providing structure to the day for hundreds of soldiers supporting the task force mission.
The 14-Soldier mess section works in two shifts and feeds both a breakfast and afternoon meals. The afternoon shift prepares for the next day's breakfast and the morning crew prepares for the afternoon meal.
"Right now we're cooking for hundreds of people," said Sgt. Keith Fredricksen, a mess section shift lead non-commissioned officer. "It's like Groundhog Day"you always come back to the same thing."
While the daily grind of cooking can be monotonous, the daily meal cycle provides structure in the lives of soldiers whose lives are filled with so many other things that are unpredictable.
"The whole FOB is focused on us," said Fredricksen. "No one remembers when we open the doors early"only when we open late."
Between having soldiers tasked for regular chores like guard duty and having some section members gone on leave, each shift averages five dedicated mess section personnel and three to seven soldiers assigned to kitchen patrol (KP). These crews provide the food, drinks, smiles and clean dishes to soldiers as they dutifully clear weapons, wash hands and file into the chow line twice daily. They also come up with some pretty good cuisine, considering that they have to come up with menus from whatever the supply truck hauls in.
"We work with what comes in on the trucks. It seems like we get a lot of chicken," said Fredricksen. "These guys are pretty creative. We've got some good cooks here. We do get a lot of compliments."
Fredrickson was quick to point out that they work with the equipment they brought with them and are strict at following stringent safety procedures in preparing food.
"Our equipment came right out of the MKT," he said, referring to the mobile kitchen trailer assigned to his section. "We have to cook everything to certain temperatures."
Working in a kitchen day in and day out can be tiring, but mess section Soldiers do find ways to have fun on the job.
"Where do I start," said Pvt. 1st Class John Ray III, a member of the section. "I think the funniest thing is when we had a water fight and someone ended up getting dumped in the sink."
While having fun on the job can make the day seem brighter, it is clear that the TF 1-163 mess section fulfills an important and serious role in keeping the gears turning for the soldiers at FOB McHenry.
Working with its Iraqi partners, the 116 BCT is filling an important role in efforts to establish a secure and prosperous environment in the provinces of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. The unit's multi-faceted mission also includes aiding the Iraqi government, supporting economic and infrastructure development, and facilitating communications.
The 116 BCT includes headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116 BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III as part of the global war on terrorism.
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2005 08:33 |
| Story ID: | 1616 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE MCHENRY, IQ |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
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