Photo By Song Jordan | (Right to Left) LCpl. Kaw Htoo and Cpl. Eli Lancelot, chefs assigned to Marine Corps...... read more read more
The mess hall team aboard Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, hosted the fourth quarter fiscal year Marine Corps Installations Pacific Food Services Specialist of the Quarter competition for the third year in a row, August 18-19, 2026.
Three teams competed this year. CATC Camp Fuji, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Two barbecue cooking celebrities helped determine the winners. Moe Cason and Bob Trudnak.
The pit masters said they enjoy the interactions they have with service members.
“For me to give a little bit back, by coming here cooking, teaching, and judging interacting [with you], it means the world to me because of what you do for us,” said Trudnak.
Cason, a Navy veteran who served four years, understands how important visits from celebrities can be for members of the military.
“I served and I know Armed Forces Entertainment brining the music acts, motivational speakers, all these things is a positive for the troops,” said Cason. “I don’t’ care if you’re a Seaman, Airman, Marine, Army, it is beneficial. It’s morale.”
Before the Marines started cooking, Cason and Trudnak taught a class about how to master barbecue. They offered guidance about many topics including different cuts of ribs, brining, and different regional American flavors of barbecue.
The Marines spent the rest of their time in the kitchen prepping for the next day. Competition day.
After spending frantic hours cooking in the galley, the time to present meals to the judges arrived.
Each team served their meals and stood before the judges to describe the menu, their inspiration and answer any questions the judges had. The judges also offered feedback to the chefs.
The five judges graded the meals based on: presentation, nutrition, ingredients compatibility, creativity, and flavor.
The contest wasn’t over yet.
The mess hall started buzzing with an influx of Camp Fuji military and civilian staff eager to vote for the “People’s Choice” category. They filed into a single line and presented their plates to the chefs for the samples.
The people chose the home team, Camp Fuji, as their favorite.
Then the judges’ picks were announced: Third place: Camp Fuji Second place: MCB Hawaii First place: MCAS Iwakuni
Third place team lead, Cpl. William Grant, said he was looking forward to getting back to normal after all the chaos associated with the competition eases.
The winners appeared to beam with pride of taking first place.
“I’m happy. We put in our all. I didn’t expect first place. I just expected us to do our best and see what happens,” said Cpl. Eli Lancelot. He credited Htoo for the amount of work put in before Lancelot replaced another chef. “He put a lot of hours into this. I was a last minute replacement, so we had a lot of work to do,” said Lancelot.
Since there were only three teams competing, when the second-place team was called, it was clear which team was the winner.
“I was kind of nervous at first,” said LCpl. Kaw Htoo. “When they called the runner-up, I thought, ‘Wow. We did it.’”
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2026 04:00 |
| Story ID: | 573050 |
| Location: | GOTENBA, JP |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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