Photo By Cpl. Gideon Schippers | The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, awards the Major General...... read more read more
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[MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, ARIZONA] – The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith presented the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma Mess Hall the Major General William Pendleton Thompson (W.P.T) Hill Award at MCAS Yuma, Arizona, July 24, 2024.
In his address, Gen. Smith praised the mess hall team: “Congratulations… well deserved. Thanks, on behalf of all the Marines you serve. You’re clearly running a tight ship, and I’m grateful for the care you provide our Marines.”
The W.P.T. Hill Memorial Award is given annually to the mess hall that demonstrates excellence in food preparation, customer service, and overall management. MCAS Yuma's Mess Hall stood out among all west coast mess halls, earning the title of Best Full Food Service Mess Hall. This achievement followed a rigorous inspection process by Marine Corps, Navy, and Army evaluators. The inspection assessed cleanliness, employee training, recipe execution, menu management, and the use of the Marine Corps Food Management Information System (MCFMIS).
Tirso Quezada, Sodexo project manager, MCAS Yuma, explains “honestly, I think the team that we have here sets us apart from everybody else. We all have the same 21-day master menu, we offer the same foods, we all have the same tools but I hear especially from Marines that are from another place that they love it here.”
Despite being the busiest air station in the Marine Corps, MCAS Yuma’s Mess Hall consistently delivers exceptional service year-round. The logistical challenges are significant, especially during the semiannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, which increases the number of service members on the installation.
Quezada elaborates, “When the units give us information about people arriving, we are able to increase our inventory to have the food here. You know a lot of people don’t think about that. We look at the doors, we take head count every 15 minutes and a lot has to do with historical data, I’ll look at yesterday, I’ll look at breakfast to see if there was an increase of Marines. The production guide that the cooks get, is done a week ahead…it’s a process.”
The team's commitment to maintaining high standards was evident last year when they narrowly missed first place by just three points. This year, their determination and hard work led them to victory. Quezada recognizes General Manager Moriah Baker’s role in their success: “Moriah Baker’s leadership and dedication were crucial. Her hands-on approach and tireless efforts were instrumental in earning this award.”
Quezada stated, “our general manager, Moriah Baker, she’s very hands on. She knows about this whole operation. This Hill award is basically to her credit, the hours she puts in, her guidance and leadership.”
Looking ahead, the team remains focused on maintaining their excellence. “Our goal is to win the Hill Award again. We’ve proven we can achieve it, and we’re ready to compete with the best,” Quezada concludes.
MCAS Yuma continues to serve service members and distinguished guests with exceptional dedication, setting a high standard for Marine Corps food service operations.
For more information please visit: https://www.mcasyuma.marines.mil/
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2024 11:37 |
| Story ID: | 477297 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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