One group that touches our lives day in and day out is Services. They feed us three-square meals, ensure members have some sort of entertainment plans to make the time more enjoyable and many other jobs one does not even think about but they do it with a smile and with such professionalism.
This is no different with the mission they are currently on, a medical Innovative Readiness Training mission in Eastern Louisiana. Although the mission is geared toward medical, there is always training to be had within each organization. Services is no different. Most of the members are junior enlisted and are lead by Master Sgt. Jessica Lamb who is with the 150 Special Operations Wing and by Major Pamela Dove from the 171st Air Refueling Wing.
On this deployment they were set to cook meals for over 250 members. Murphy's Law kicked into gear and suddenly they were needing to get a contract for food services. All this was done fluidly or from those looking from the outside in, it looked as if this is what was planned. Meeting with the catering company, Ms. Audrey's Southern Kitchen and Catering, out of Gulfport, Miss., the contract was set and meals soon were to be enjoyed by all.
The young Airmen got the opportunity to see first hand how the 'business' end works. To learn from someone who has been in the business for several years. They now have an understanding that lessons learned are not limited to the military way but through a person who has gone through the school of hard knocks. Molding the minds of these young Airmen is truly what any training mission is all about.
“I've learned a lot about the various logistics part of the services career field, for example; the lodging and bed-down portion that I was tasked with. It had it's challenges with the roster continuously changing at the beginning of the mission,” said Senior Airmen Anne Blair, 150 Services.
The greatest reward is how these young minds are able to see how missions, like this one, give back to fellow Americans. At times they can interact with the local community and just see how humble and thankful people can truly be. This is emulated in the way they greet the members for every meal and the interaction they with individuals. But learning from the military aspect is just one of the many ways military members are taught.
“It would have been nice to prepare meals but seeing it from a supervising perspective and the logistics behind catering and learning the food standards of the Air Force, has given me a new appreciation for what people like Ms. Audrey do at any given time has exposed me something I may have not had the opportunity do to in other deployed environments,” said Senior Airmen Amanda Trujillo, 210 REDHORSE.
The services team has been given the opportunity to work with a woman who has such a passion for cooking and sharing her skills with those she comes in contact with. Her name is Audrey Duncan, and her company is “Ms. Audrey's Southern Kitchen and Catering,” which she has been in business for three years. Coming from a humble background herself, she knew what it was like and she also knows what it takes to change it. It is with this resilience that she gives back to her community.
Ms. Audrey work with an out-reach program, Climb CDC in Gulfport, Miss., and she instructs them in the fine art of cooking. Her knowledge and passion for this helps further the lives of at risk kids. Once these kids have completed the course they will graduate with a certificate, which will allow them to work in the food service arena. Her sweet nature and the giving heart she has shown the services team many life lessons. Some things you just can't learn from books they need to be seen and felt.
“It is very, very, very humbling for me to be able work with the students and to even be able to be here serving you all is very humbling to me,” said Ms. Audrey, “You are like family to me now.”
Challenges and learning experiences are what make “best practices” within our careers. The Louisiana Care IRT mission and all of its aspects has shown the softer side of the military. It shows community involvement and shows those military members that they to can learn from others who are also giving back to their community. Ms. Audrey and her staff show them the true meaning of southern hospitality and a humanistic side that no book could ever teach.
“It's been great to be apart of a support team to assist the medical team carry out the mission. To help the community with their basic medical needs and to give back to the people and community of Louisiana,” said Senor Airmen Sara Medina, 210 REDHORSE.
Those on this mission will all leave here with a bit of southern hospitality and they will be able to share it with others for years to come.
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2017 21:58 |
| Story ID: | 241575 |
| Location: | RESERVE, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Serving those while Learning about Service, by MSgt Paula Aragon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
