Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Valentine | Spc. Jeffery Wu, assigned to Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored...... read more read more
BAGHDAD – An oasis is defined as a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation.
Soldiers from Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, who are assigned to the Iron Oasis Dining Facility at Camp Liberty work tirelessly every day to provide a place for Soldiers and civilians to sit, relax and enjoy a meal.
"We try to make it a complete experience," said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Gibson, an Ocala, Fla., native, and the food preparation management noncommissioned officer in charge at the facility. "A good meal, good music and a good environment."
There have been several new ideas implemented at the Iron Oasis, including smooth jazz and salsa music played in the seating area and movies shown in the theater room and outside under a covered picnic area. The also provide council meetings where Soldiers can ask questions and make suggestions to improve all aspects of the facility.
The Iron Oasis Soldiers also try to bring visiting acts and performers to entertain their customers on the outside stage. Karaoke is also a new program in which customers can try their hand at singing for those walking by.
Spc. Jeffrey Wu, a food service specialist, is on his second deployment to Iraq and said seeing the familiar faces that come into the dining facility is his favorite part of coming into work every day.
"It makes me feel good to know that we make a place where people can relax and have a good meal," he said.
Even though he enjoys greeting people and talking to them on a daily basis, he said he wonders what some customers may think when they enter the facility.
"We do so much more than what our customers see us doing during chow hours," said Wu, who is okay with whatever is thrown his way. "My policy is to go with the flow, do my job and adapt."
Sgt. George Wright, a shift leader, also enjoys the social aspect of working at the Iron Oasis.
"It's always something new," he said. "It is like an old neighborhood park where people gather and exchange ideas and stories."
It is not all fun and socializing for those who work at the Iron Oasis, though. Proper food preparation and handling is important business, stated Pfc. Alex Howley, a Manahawkin, N.J., native who works at the dining facility.
"I take my job very seriously. Any food that I see that can cause problems, or anything brought inside that could cause harm to our customers, I deal with immediately," said Howley. "Our standards are very high."
In addition to making sure customers are safe from harm, he said another priority for him is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to get an equal amount of food.
The Soldiers working in the dining facility are required to enforce standards. They keep an eye out for people removing too much food from the building, point out improper uniform wear, and call the appropriate commands when high-ranking leaders enter. This requires them to keep their eyes open and maintain a high level of tact at all times.
Other ways the Iron Oasis crew helps create a pleasant atmosphere: decorating for major holidays; reserving rooms for special events; collecting and distributing snacks and drinks for units conducting 24-hour operations. They also coordinate and supervise the delivery of water to the area covered by the 1st Armored Division, like the Iron Gym, living areas and division headquarters.
Gibson said it is a team effort that gets the job done. He credits his Soldiers for the success.
"They are helpful, especially with all the changes that occur on a daily basis," he said. "I listen to their ideas and try to implement them. We get together and come up with a plan to make sure there is quality food for our customers."
"It makes me feel good doing my job, I take pride in it," said Gibson. "I can see it in our customers' faces that we are making their day better.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2010 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 50308 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 125 |
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