Photo By Derika Upshaw | The 1st Cavalry Division team, Spc. Angel Omar Casstillo Rodriguez, Spc. Cassidy Amya...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT HOOD, Texas — Culinary specialists competed in teams for the second annual III Armored Corps Army Birthday Ball Cake Competition May 13, 2026, at the Phantom Centralized HUB, with team two, “Ready, Reserve,” 1st Cavalry Division, taking the win.
“This cake competition is one of a kind,” Master Sgt. Marpue Thomas, Phantom Centralized HUB program manager, conveyed. “It’s supposed to represent America’s freedom.”
Thomas said personnel from various units representing each brigade were teamed and charged with creating a design that represents America, the red, white and blue, from past to present.
“Each one of the contestants went above what they thought they were limited to do,” Thomas expressed. “Some of the contestants, it was their first time ever creating a design, working with a team to bake a cake, let alone frost it … working with fondant color flow, making chocolate cake and vanilla cake. So, it was a sight to see.”
The leader for the 1st Cav. Div. team, Spc. Angel Rodriguez, 1st Cav. Div., was one of the first-time contestants.
“It’s crazy. I know because I don’t like pastry, but at the same time I love it,” Rodriguez said. “I learned a lot of format, structure … I can learn something new every day.”
Thomas said she feels the best students for the competition are those who prefer not to do pastry.
“They’re more savory entree chefs, those are the best ones when it comes to the competition because they follow direction,” Thomas explained. “They’re not doubting themselves in regard to past cakes that they have made before or being judged. This is open mind, being creative with it and just believing in themselves.”
The purpose of the event was not only to give culinary specialists a chance at competition but the ability to further their culinary training. Thomas said they were coached on different aspects of pastry making and setting themselves up for success with all the equipment they may need.
Rodriguez explained the winning cake was completely created by hand. The floor of the cake was a cookie fondant with all the colors also made by hand. The confection consisted of chocolate and vanilla cake with a rich chocolate ganache and cream cheese filling.
The 1st Cav. Div. team will be joined by the division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team to design the cake for the Army’s Freedom Ball on July 2, 2026.
“Now they have to make a cake with 800 servings, and they have to build the foundation learning from, ‘Hey, this worked and this didn’t,’ and just fine tuning the foundation parts, the design and piping, and creating all the intricate details,” Thomas explained.
Thomas said she was proud of the effort all the Soldiers put into their designs and excited to see what they come up with next.
“One thing I do want to add is getting out of your own way, getting out your comfort zone, to open the door for opportunities that you never thought you can go through,” she said. “Just believe in yourself and you’ll be fine. It’s not about the end results, (but) about the journey, and this will be a memorable moment for each Soldier.”
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2026 10:28 |
| Story ID: | 567607 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldier's batter up for America's birthday, by Derika Upshaw, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
