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Just outside the 952nd Quartermaster Building in Livonia, Michigan, the U.S. Army's 798th Field Feeding Detachment constructed a fully operating, semi enclosed, outdoor kitchen to simulate real-time field feeding for U.S. Army Soldiers.
This event is one of many across the United States where military culinary specialists compete for a chance at the 58th Phillip A. Connelly Food Service Excellence Award. The award focuses on accuracy and teamwork, highlighting how essential food service is to supporting military operations.
The U.S. Army is dedicated to maintaining and improving troop feeding capabilities, while giving those working in the field a chance to refine their skills and encourage innovation. This year’s event, like many before it, highlighted the impact of these essential skills while giving the unit a chance to connect and celebrate during the holiday season.
Participants were evaluated on multiple aspects of field operations, including site setup, ration management, maintenance, sanitation and even security posture, showcasing some of the complexities of feeding troops in the field. Challenges such as limited resources, unpredictable weather, and strict schedules require adaptability and precision. The competition tested this technical expertise, as well as leadership, and collaboration within the unit.
Preparation for the evaluation started at 8:00 a.m. that morning. Building of the outdoor kitchen, or MKT, started at about 9:30 a.m. and, in just about three hours, at 12:36 p.m. lunch was being served. The event took multiple days to prepare for, including a day of prep and a day for rehearsal to ensure everything went smoothly. Crowd favorites among those that ate at the evaluation were the turkey gravy meal and the blueberry crumble dessert.
Personal touches done by culinary specialists like Spc. Tana Battle, 798th FFD, creating small fruit and vegetable sculptures to garnish the trays, reminds everyone of the humanity of food service and the care and passion it takes to prepare and serve food to the troops, going beyond the expected to give the best experience possible. Sgt. Zachery Albrant is another culinary specialist with the 798th who led the outdoor MKT cooking preparation, having a hand in almost every meal that went out that day.
Other participants included Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Miller, Staff Sgt. Todd Ransom, Staff Sgt. Jenetta Taylor, Sgt. Karl Navarro, Sgt. Alexander Clark, and Spc. Kunchan Park, Spc. Adam Colson, and Spc. Norfleet from the 798th Field Feeding Detachment. To assist them from the 799th was Spc. Celine McCausland, Pfc. Alex Greenhoe, Spc. Benjamin Arther and from the 952nd was Sgt 1st Class Jeremy Wert, Sgt. Eugene Nelson, Pfc. David Rosewood, Pfc. Justin Gullett, Sgt. Joseph Morales, Spc. Laetitia Asika, Spc. David Bittenbender and Pfc. Ahmed Kawsar.
"It's great to be here, I'm very proud," said Col. Jeremy Latchaw, the 645th Regional Support Group commander, who was present to offer encouragement to his troops and see their hard work in action. "And, look at that, they even have dessert!"
In true holiday spirit, the 798th FFD invited sister units on site to join them for lunch. Encouraging civilians and Army personnel to walk through the constructed food service lines for their own meals, giving multiple units and their families the chance to socialize while allowing the Field Feeding Detachment Unit a chance to showcase their skills for the evaluations.
Chief Warrant Officer 4, Rebekah Johnson with the 645th Reegional Support Command was the evaluator for the event. Johnson played an active role throughout the process and was responsible for ensuring all standards were met and to oversee the production of the service line, from set up to take down and everything in between.
"The results," Johnson said after the event concluded, "Are that the team will advance to the USARC (United States Army Reserve Command) level!”
The legacy of this competition lies in continuous improvement and involvement. By challenging units competitively in field feeding operations, it drives innovation, ensuring Soldiers receive the best support whenever needed. As the evaluations concluded, and the good news was made available, teams gathered for a debrief. Although final results for the award would not be available until Spring 2025, everyone had something to celebrate. Every participant demonstrated skill, hard work and dedication, embodying the spirit of not only the Connelly Awards, but of the U.S. Army too.
Learn more about the Philip A. Connelly Program by visiting https://quartermaster.army.mil/jccoe/Special_Programs_Directorate/Philip_A_Connelly/P_A_Connelly_main.html
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2025 13:44 |
| Story ID: | 488708 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fueling Soldiers, Building Morale: Excellence in Army Field Feeding, by PFC Melanie Tolen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
