Email   Print   Share By Spc. Jenine Shamieh, 4th PAD

Facebook Digg Delicious October 11, 2012 | News

Soldiers enjoy a lunch of steak and potatoes prepared by food service specialists with 401st MP Co., 720th MP Bn., 89th MP Bde., at Gauntlet Field on Fort Hood for the unit’s quarterly food service inspection. Spc. Jenine Shamieh, 4th PAD

Spc. Ashana Adams, food service specialist with 64th MP Co., 720th MP Bn., 89th MP Bde., serves potatoes to Sgt. Jordan Braga, food service specialist with 410th MP Co., 720th MP Bn., 89th MP Bde. at Gauntlet Field on Fort Hood for a quarterly food service inspection. Spc. Jenine Shamieh, 4th PAD

Food service Soldiers with 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade provided meals to their senior leaders Sept. 26 at Gauntlet Field on post for the unit's quarterly food service inspection.

The exercise presents an opportunity for the certification and licensing for food service specialists. A demonstration was prepared so the food service Soldiers could practice on the equipment they use in the field. The equipment used in the field is different than what the Soldiers use every day in the dining facility.

The Soldiers served one meal, lunch, for the exercise. They set up the equipment, prepared the meal, and served the meal. Most of those who came to enjoy the meal were their senior leadership, who came out to support them.

“We produce these demo sessions to ensure these Soldiers are in compliance with certain training assets and requirements that are on the inspection list,” Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Fillmore, brigade food service manager for the 89th MP Bde., said.

Equipment used in the field includes a mobile kitchen trailer and a food sanitation center. The MKT is where hot food is prepared and served. Once the MKT arrives at the site it can be ready to serve food within five to six hours. The FSC is used for proper sanitation in a field environment.

“Everything is going pretty good,” Fillmore said. “My Soldiers executed the mission with minimal supervision, they were able to take control. We added one other piece which was the field sanitation center. I could see they were grasping the mobile kitchen trailer and the actual set-up on the outside line a little better, so I wanted to throw some additional equipment out there.”

The food service specialists train on the field equipment several times before meeting the requirements for certification and licensing.

“It's not a simple process of one time being trained, it takes a series of times being trained on it and the Soldier demonstrating with no supervision,” Fillmore said. “Once a Soldier masters all the areas, then we can say the Soldier is licensed.”

The main reasons for the demonstration were to set up their equipment, to make sure they know how to use it, and to show off their skills to the command team.

“To have the whole entire command team come out and show support, it really meant a lot to them,” Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Sanders, the command food a dviser for the 89th MP Bde., said.

After the meal was served Col. Rob Dillon, commander of the 89th MP Bde., recognized two Soldiers, Spc. Ashana Adams, food service specialist with 64th Military Police Company, 720th MP Bn., 89th MP Bde., and Pvt. 1st Class Kevin Kent, food service specialist with 401st MP Co., 720th MP Bn., 89th MP Bde., for outstanding food service by presenting them with a brigade coin.

“I appreciate what you do,” Dillon told the troops. “It doesn't go overlooked.”