Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Groce | Spc. Hector Dominguez, a cook in the Rakkasan's 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd...... read more read more
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PFC Cassandra Groce
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
SAMARRA, Iraq (January 8, 2006) --The chow hall at Forward Operating Base Brassfield-Mora, which is completely run by Soldiers, is getting a face lift now that the Rakkasans are in town.
Sixteen Soldiers from Foxtrot Company, 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, are employed at the Brassfield Dining Facility. Six to eight of those Soldiers, a "Forward Field Feeding Team," are cooking at Patrol Base Olson.
Since the Rakkasans have taken over the chow hall, the Soldiers at the surrounding patrol bases have seen major improvements in their lifestyle. Prior to the Rakkasan's arrival, these Soldiers got hot chow only four times a week. Now they get hot food twice a day.
The DFAC at Brassfield pushes rations and produce to Olson, where the cooks prepare it. The hot chow is then picked up by all the surrounding patrol bases for their Soldiers.
"We try to offer the best food we can, a little taste of home," said Staff Sgt. Jason D. Young, the Senior Food Service Sergeant at Brassfield. "The better the food, the better Soldiers will perform on their mission."
The food coming into Brassfield is now fresher as well. The Rakkasans kept the food contract from the prior unit, but have changed where the food is coming from. Food is now shipped from Turkey and is a lot fresher.
"Before, when produce showed up, it was unusable," said Young.
Meals, which typically take around two and a half hours to prepare, will also see a reduction in preparation time. The electrical system in the chow hall is being rewired to better accommodate the cooking facility.
Not only are conditions improving, but the taste of the food is as well. The cooks at Brassfield do their best to make sure the food is varied and "enhanced."
"For example, pasteurized eggs are just boiled in a bag for scrambled eggs, according to the box," said Johnson. "We have improved the eggs by making omelettes with fresh, chopped vegetables and cheese."
Soldiers have noticed the improvement in the last few weeks as well. The chow hall leaves comment cards on the tables for Soldiers to fill out, and they do.
"It's times like these I love being a Rakkasan," said one Soldier on his comment card. "Thank you DFAC [dining facility] guys!"
The cooks read each comment card and try to accommodate the suggestions if at all possible. At the Soldiers" request, the staff has ordered an AFN receiver for the TV in the chow hall
The chow hall feeds anywhere from 1,000 to 1,400 Soldiers a meal. Food is prepared continually throughout the serving time to minimize waste and to keep meals hot and fresh.
"When Soldiers are away from home, the more care you can provide for a Soldier, the more mission capable they will be," said Young. "It boosts their morale."
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2006 13:56 |
| Story ID: | 5112 |
| Location: | SAMARRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 642 |
| Downloads: | 256 |
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