Photo By Lance Cpl. Francisco Abundes | Army Spc. Nicholas Hagedorn, food inspector, pours milk to be sampled and checked April 4.... read more read more
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MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - Amid thousands of Marine pattern utilities and blue Navy working uniforms, there are a handful of Army combat uniforms peppering the TriCommand installations.
These soldiers are not lost, rather they are hard at work combating the threat of food-borne illnesses by ensuring service members consume safe, wholesome food.
Known as veterinary food inspection specialists, the soldiers inspect all mess halls, Marine Corps Exchanges and Marine Corps Community Services facilities aboard Laurel Bay housing area, Naval Hospital Beaufort, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
“We give support to Marines and Navy personnel in inspecting all the food facilities,” said Army Spc. Catherine Solomon, non-commissioned officer in charge of food inspection.
Soldiers examine the food Marines and sailors consume, maintaining ideal sanitary procedures in all aspects of the food distribution process, said Army Spc. Nicholas Hagedorn, food inspector.
“We inspect for food storage and temperature and anything else relating to the sanitation of food before it actually gets cooked,” Solomon said. “From on the truck, to off the truck, to refrigeration and freezer units – we check to make sure that the food served is in good quality.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food-borne viruses in the United States cause about 6 million illnesses and 9,000 deaths per year. The veterinary detachment personnel mainly operate around the commissary, making certain no such epidemic strikes here.
“We do the sanitation, food storage, pest control -- anything that has to do with the commissary,” Solomon said.
The soldiers are assigned to Parris Island and report to the depot veterinarian, an Army officer who conducts inspections with them.
Solomon said the soldiers also conduct joint inspections with Navy preventive medicine. They assist them with pest control and sanitation.
Without healthy, sanitary food, recruits wouldn’t be able to carry out their training as effectively, Solomon said. By preventing illnesses through diligent food management, the soldiers prevent interferences to training.
“If [the recruits] are not getting the right kind of food they can’t complete their mission,” Solomon said.
The soldiers’ placement here integrates them with their sister services and shows how their skills are essential to operations on any installation.
“I like that we are here with them – I enjoy being on a Marine base,” Solomon said. “It’s like being around a whole different frame of mind, and I’ve gained a lot of respect for the Marine Corps.”
While their mission here may not be as well-known as those actively involved in making Marines or putting planes in the sky, the food-inspection soldiers are an essential part of operations for all service members in the Beaufort area.
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2011 14:43 |
| Story ID: | 69578 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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