The Regimental DFAC Competes for the Connelly

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | FORT IRWIN, Calif. — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sahara Neria, a shift leader assigned to Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, demonstrates how to cut a sheet cake for the Philip A. Connelly judges Aug 24, 2016, at Fort Irwin’s Regimental Dining Facility. The Philip A. Connelly award provides recognition for excellence in the preparation and serving of food in Army troop dining facilities and during field kitchen operations. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. David Edge, 11th ACR)  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

08.24.2016

Story by Sgt. David Edge 

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — In 1968, the Army created the Philip A. Connelly award as a way to recognize excellence in Army food service. The Connelly award tests a unit’s ability to perform fundamental tasks in every level of food service. Every aspect of the dining facility, from cleanliness, food storage, preparation, and service is inspected and judged.

The Regimental Dining Facility here, had its chance to prove that it is one of the elite in the Army, Aug. 24, 2016.

Food Service Specialist is one of the oldest, and arguably one of the proudest Military Occupational Specialties in the Army. Since 1775, when the U.S. Army was established, cooks have proudly served with honor.
For the last 241 years, the regulations for food preparation and service has changed greatly in the Army. Enforcing the standards has always been the job of the non-commissioned officer. Day in and day out, food service specialist NCO’s make sure that their Soldiers go above and beyond the Army standard.

“The Connelly competition pits all of the dining facilities across the Army against each other to see who has the best dining facility and to see who knows their stuff,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sahara Neria, a shift leader assigned to Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. “It’s kind of like a showcase for the Food Service Specialist, showing the Army who can do everything to standard.”

With the Connelly judges moving around the dining facility asking questions and paying close attention to everything that the Food Service Specialist were doing, the Soldiers didn’t seem to be bothered by the extra scrutiny.

“This competition, while important, didn’t faze most of us, because this is what we do every day we come to work. The only difference today, was about who can do it better,” said Spc. Felicity Hill, a cook assigned to Headquarters Troop, RSS, 11th ACR.

The dining facility that wins the Philip A. Connelly award will take home bragging rights for the year. More importantly, the winner will receive an invitation to the National Restaurant Association’s annual conference, two junior Soldiers will win scholarships to the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, Calif., and finally, a trophy for their display case.

“Winning the Connelly would be huge. It would put Fort Irwin on the map as not only being the best field training location in the Army, but the best dining facility in the Army,” said Sergeant 1st Class Miriam Fontenette, a dining facility manger assigned to Headquarters Troop, RSS,11th ACR. “The Soldiers worked hard to prepare for this competition, and win or lose, I am proud of what these Soldiers accomplished in such a short time.”

• Date Taken: 08.24.2016
• Date Posted: 08.31.2016 18:50
• Story ID: 208644
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US