Photo By Capt. Maria Mengrone | The Texas Army National Guard assembled its best culinary specialists to compete and...... read more read more
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San Antonio, Texas – The Texas Army National Guard assembled its best culinary specialists to compete and subsequently win the Region V, Philip A. Connelly Competition, August 6, 2016.
The guardsmen from Echo Company, 536th Brigade Support Battalion, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat competed against guard units from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Louisiana and Kansas.
“We want to challenge our Soldiers within their MOS skills so that they can get and share the knowledge from our subject matter experts that are here to evaluate our performance,” said Capt. Rita C. Miller, company commander. “I’m really proud of the work my Soldiers have put into this competition,” said Miller.
The unit prepared seasoned pork chops, grilled potatoes, black-eyed peas, cornbread and a variety of other menu items from a mobile kitchen designed to function in field environments. However, the competition is not just a measure of the preparation and quality.
“The competition is a timed event that rates the unit on 10 major categories, which include field food safety, attitude of staff, kitchen site and set up, headcount operations and cash collection, just to name a few,” said Mr. Robert K. Gary, evaluator and team leader.
“We evaluate but we are also here to coach, teach and mentor along the way. We want the unit to know what right looks like when it comes to food service,” said Gary.
The unit prepared for more than a year and the training has paid off.
“The evaluators are looking for the standard that corresponds to field operations, and that’s how we train,” said 1st Sgt. Derry L. Hodo.
“Everything we do has to be done to a certain time and standard.” said Hodo. “For example, our Soldiers need to know when to start cooking the pork chops and potatoes to meet specific requirements.”
While the competition was in full swing Soldiers received a moral boost from their division leadership.
“It’s great to see our 92 golf Soldiers get out in the field and provide nutritious meals,” said Sgt. Maj. Sharon R. Fultz, logistic sergeant major, 36th Infantry Division. “I think the greatest thing that defines a 92 golf soldier is their attitude because they have to be up before everyone to prepare the meal and stay up to clean. I wasn’t going to miss them compete today.”
Despite the pressure of the competition some soldiers took the whole experience in stride.
“I enjoy cooking,” said Laredo native Pvt. Luis A. Garcia, culinary specialist, “Everybody got their job done within the timeframe and it’s always fun.”
The unit is scheduled to compete and represent the Texas guard and Region VI at the Department of the Army level of the competition in early 2017. Here they will compete against other top finishers from the respective four regions across the country.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2016 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 209307 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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