Photo By Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Reynesha Cecil, a food services member assigned to the...... read more read more
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The doors open to a place of dedication, determination and delectable delights. It is staffed with Airmen ensuring quality standards for their customers and working around the clock to ensure the mission continues across the base. These doors are the entrance to the West Region 2019 John L. Hennessy Trophy winner, the Hangar 97 Dining Facility.
As part of the Hennessy Trophy award program, each dining facility vying for the award underwent a weeklong assessment conducted by a four-member Hennessy Evaluation Team. The categories evaluated were Kitchen Operations, Serving and Dining Operations, Training, Personnel and Readiness, Sanitation Repair Maintenance and Management. The Mighty 97th scored the highest for region two of the Air Force and was ultimately named the winner of the 2019 Region Two Hennessy Trophy.
“What led us to win was our team dynamic, working together and having a positive atmosphere,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Alaina Baldowski, 97th Force Support Squadron food services section chief. “We are feeding the mission here and we are the only mission essential food operation. We realize the important role we have, do our best with customer service and we have outstanding Airmen here.”
It was an installation-wide effort helping the dining facility earn the award. Several units across the 97th Air Mobility Wing were asked to provide feedback to draw attention to facility quality. “It was a whole base effort,” said. U.S. Air Force Maj. Michelle Ground, 97th FSS operations officer. “Being the best in the Air Force doesn’t happen alone. It’s on the squadron to make sure they have everything they need to execute their mission; but at the end of the day, it’s the hard working Airmen who earned the award.”
In spring of 2019, members of the 97th FSS food services section will travel to Chicago, Illinois to accept the award and receive special training.
“In May, they have training planned for senior noncommissioned officers and noncommissioned officers who manage food operations,” said Baldowski. “We have already proved how well we have worked together and this will make us even better.”
Hangar 97 competed against Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and Eielson Air Base, Alaska, for the Hennessy Trophy. This was the first time in more than two decades Hangar 97 has been nominated for the trophy and is the team’s first time winning at the Air Force level.
“To even be nominated after winning at the command level was difficult,” said Baldowski, “but we managed to put together the right package to get nominated. After they left and it got closer to announcing the winner, I knew that we had a good chance of winning and I was just anxious. It’s an honor to have the Air Force recognize the hard work we put into our job.”
Every career in the Air Force has their own goal to accomplish the bigger mission. Being recognized with the award gives the 97th FSS an extra reminder of that effort.
“You get out what you put in and I hope the Airmen realize the recognition they have received,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Edgard Castillo, 97th FSS superintendent. “With the facility being here for over 63 years, this was the team to earn this award and showcase to the world that they are the best of the best.”
Hangar 97 was evaluated in January of 2019 and won in March.
“We are happy that we won, but it’s still business as usual here,” said Baldowski. “We still have a mission to accomplish, but we will make time eventually to celebrate our win. We are still tracking accomplishments for next year’s competition and continuing to find the best ways to serve our customers while preparing our Airmen.”
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2019 18:22 |
| Story ID: | 320061 |
| Location: | ALTUS AFB, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hangar 97 Serves Up Another Win, by SSgt Cody Dowell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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