Photo By Sgt. Devin Klecan | U.S. Army Culinary Specialists part of the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) Field...... read more read more
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DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland – Culinary specialists from the 1st Armored Division displayed dedication and commitment across different continents during the 57th Philip A. Connelly Active Field Kitchen Competition from April 2024 to April 2025. With the unwavering commitment of the Soldiers, the foundations for feeding the Army of 2030 were laid.
U.S. Army culinary specialists, part of the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) Field Feeding Team, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, participated in the annual 2025 Philip A. Connelly Active Field Kitchen Competition. The Philip A. Connelly Award Program is an esteemed competition within the U.S. military that recognizes excellence in food service. The purpose of the competition is to enhance the professionalism and proficiency of food service personnel, increase the quality of food and dining experiences for Soldiers—which contributes significantly to troop morale—and recognize outstanding culinary skills and teamwork in challenging environments.
First established in 1968, the competition is named after Master Sgt. Philip A. Connelly, a former president of the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) and a strong advocate for military food service.
Each year, the competition features various categories, including Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Army components, all graded on the quality of food in field kitchens and dining facilities. Culinary experts within the Department of Defense or U.S. Army rigorously judge competing teams on a comprehensive set of factors, such as the quality of the food (taste, appearance, temperature, and recipe adherence), sanitation and food safety practices (hygiene, temperature control, and proper handling procedures), services (efficiency, courtesy, and knowledge of menu items), training (proficiency in food service skills and knowledge of regulations), and administration (record keeping, inventory management, and unit organization).
Leaders from the 3rd Armored Brigade recognized the potential of the Brigade’s culinary team and observed as the team consistently grew and worked together to overcome challenges. Since the start of the competition in April 2024, the “Bulldogs” team of culinary excellence has included Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brandon Parworth, Food Advisor, Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Santa Cruz, Senior Culinary Management Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), Sgt. 1st Class Tony Girod, Culinary Management NCO, and Capt. Nick Suerte Felipe, Food Service Officer. Further displays of culinary excellence were shown by the backbone of the team, consisting of Sgt. Jalandria Dixon, Spc. Justice Allen, Pfc. Marianna Renteria-Padilla, Pvt. Camilo Torres, Pvt. Joslyn King, Pvt. Jah’nhy Gossett, Spc. Ke’von Atkins, Sgt. David Carruth, and Sgt. Jai Guerin.
Starting at Fort Bliss, Texas, and moving to Fort Irwin, California, the 123rd BSB competed against their sister brigade and earned the 1st Armored Division nomination. Although peppered with many hard lessons and a razor-thin victory, the nomination ultimately tested the brigade’s resolve to continue winning. Over time, the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin proved to create successful conditions for the team. From the force protection posture to the sustainment occurring at scale, the circumstances led to another bid for advancement in the competition, winning at the III Armored Corps level.
Returning with their equipment to Fort Bliss, the team worked relentlessly to repair and find solutions for mechanical issues that arose during heavy field use in the previous competitions. Even though their containerized kitchen struggled with power at the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) level, the team used critical thinking to provide exemplary culinary services. By the end of the competition, the judges were impressed by the team’s ability to exceed standards and use creative solutions to overcome challenges. By leveraging all approved Army means to accomplish the mission, the 123rd BSB earned the FORSCOM nomination.
Having qualified as Department of the Army (DA) finalists, each member of the team made history together by becoming the first unit ever to compete in the competition as both a rotational unit while on rotation at the National Training Center and as a regionally aligned forces (RAF) brigade deployed in support of real-world strategic operations in Europe. Nine months since the start of their journey, the team found themselves in Poland, surpassing all expectations by completing three challenging iterations and positioning themselves to conduct the final DA round of the competition.
During their time in DCTC, the virtual boards hosted between Poland and Fort Bliss for the competition proved to be challenging. Despite a large time zone gap, the team prepared and perfected their execution and validated their communications across eight time zones. As a result, the DA judging panel highlighted the team’s exceptional professionalism in the competition’s first-ever virtual board. With all the initial requirements completed for the competition, equipment staged, and personnel deployed, training began. To ensure maximum training value during the competition, the brigade issued an order, placing the gunnery training event into a large-scale combat operations scenario. During the competition, the Field Feeding Team focused explicitly on area feeding at a rear echelon at the junction between offensive and defensive operations. With the sounds of M242 Bushmaster 25-millimeter cannons firing in the distance, the highest standard of meals was provided, culminating in the team's most successful round to date.
“I always wanted to cook and never saw it as something I could do in another environment,” said Sgt. Jai Guerin, a Culinary Specialist from the Bronx, New York. “Any environment I’m in, whether it is in a facility or in the wilderness, I’m going to take the cooking skills I learned in the military and adapt. In my opinion, the best part of the competition for me was being able to share my knowledge with my Soldiers. That is the best feeling.”
Overall, the team provided multiple world-class meals in the most demanding environments across two continents. In the end, despite not winning at the DA level, the team made history and earned the respect of their leaders, fellow sustainers, and members of the food service community. From the deserts of the Southwest United States to the pine forests of Northwest Poland, the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) Field Feeding Team completed their extraordinary bid for the 57th Annual Department of the Army Philip A. Connelly Awards Program, Active Army Field Feeding Brigade Support Battalion Category.
“I am very proud of my team and the journey that we consciously volunteered for from our home station to win our division nomination all the way up to the DA level in Poland,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Parworth. “The growth that I have seen from this team, I am immensely proud of what they have accomplished and couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Winning the competition is a prestigious achievement within the military, reflecting a unit's commitment to excellence in food service. The competition fosters a culture of continuous improvement within Army food service, ultimately benefiting Soldiers in the field and on base. The Philip A. Connelly Award Program plays a vital role in upholding high standards and recognizing the hard work of those who provide sustenance to the U.S. Army.
| Date Taken: | 04.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2025 03:49 |
| Story ID: | 495327 |
| Location: | DRAWSKO POMORSKIE TRAINING AREA, PL |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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