An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 3, 2007

Cooks Compete in Coveted Competition

By Sgt. Benjamin Cossel 196 Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - It was more than the mid-day sun and the hot kitchen causing the food service specialists of the Coshocton based 1485th Transportation Company, 112th Transportation Battalion to sweat bullets as they prepared the June 16, noon-time meal.

The pressure was on as judges walked through the tactical field mess clipboards in hand measuring the Soldiers every move.

Selected during annual training last year, the food service specialists of the 1485th were chosen to represent the state of Ohio in the Army wide Connelley Competition. The annual competition pits each state's representative in the competition to prepare a lunch meal in a tactical environment.

"We're looking for taste, texture, how well the food is garnished, how well the Soldiers maintain their kitchen and mess environment," said Master Sgt. (Ret.) Daniel Ruff, one of the three judges for the event from Bowhead Logistics.

"It's a very demanding competition, if the recipe says they're supposed to begin the soup at 9 a.m., I dock them a point if they start it early or late," Ruff said.

The Connelley Competition began as a partnership between the Department of the Army and the International Food Service Executive Association when then President of the Association, Philip A. Connelley, approached the DA.

"The IFSEA strives for excellence in the food service industry," said State food service representative Chief Warrant Officer Beverley Zwayer.

"Mr. Connelley wanted to bring some of the lessons learned by the IFSEA to the Army's food service, so he approached the DA with the idea for the competition," she said.

In addition to food preparation, the Soldiers are judged on their administration, sanitation and overall food presentation.

"If they put the mashed potatoes in the top left compartment of the tray for one Soldier, they have to do it for all the Soldiers coming through, the presentation must be uniform," said Ruff.

While the evaluation only lasts for one day, Soldiers of the 1485th have prepared for this day for six to eight months, going over the recipe, making sure all facility paperwork is in order, training and mentoring said noncommissioned officer in charge, Sgt. 1st Class Alan Metzcar.

Before Soldiers of the 1485th can go on to compete at the DA level, they must win their region comprised of seven states; Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

"Once we win," said Zwayer, "we'll go on to the DA level to compete against the winners of the other regions. Once we win that, we'll go on to New Orleans for the awards banquet in early April."

Just as the cooks are putting the finishing touches on the meal, as if on queue, a squad of Soldiers from the 1485th makes a tactical insertion into the area. The Soldiers maintain perimeter security as Ohio Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Wayt is given a tour of the facility. The lunch bell rings and the Soldiers hit the hand washing station, ready for lunch.

The menu is color coded for caloric content with a fitness menu provided, for lunch today, these Soldiers will feast on French onion soup, Saltine crackers, Creole pork chops, Islander rice, scalloped whole kernel corn, tossed green salad, assorted dressing, chocolate drop cookies, toasted garlic bread, unsweetened ice tea, milk, coffee, flavored beverages and of course condiments to season to taste.

Said Zwayer, "Food service specialists are a kind and caring group of people. To serve a meal that puts a smile the face of a Soldier increases morale and makes the job worth it."

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers with the Army National Guard speak with D.C. locals while patrolling Metro Center Aug 26, 2025. About 2,000 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work, and visit the District.
Guard Members From Six States, D.C. on Duty in Washington in Support of Local, Fed Authorities
By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, | Aug. 29, 2025
WASHINGTON – More than 2,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from six states and the District of Columbia are on duty in Washington as part of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia in support of local and federal...

Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, Maj. Gen. Russel Honore, Task Force Katrina commander, and Brig. Gen. John Basilica, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, talk to news media during the aftermath of Hurricane Rita on Sep. 29, 2005. Basilica was appointed commander of Task Force Pelican, responsible for coordinating National Guard hurricane response efforts across the State. The task force included tens of thousands of National Guard Soldiers from Louisiana and other states.
Louisiana Guard’s Tiger Brigade Marks 20th Anniversary of Redeployment and Hurricane Response
By Rhett Breerwood, | Aug. 29, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – This fall, the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the Tiger Brigade, commemorates the 20th anniversary of its redeployment from Iraq in September 2005, coinciding with the...

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk aviators and Guardian Angels, assigned to the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, respectively, conduct a hoist rescue demonstration while participating in a multi-agency hoist symposium at Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 22, 2025. The symposium, hosted by Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Golf Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, included U.S. Coast Guard crews assigned to Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic out of Air Stations Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 176th Wing rescue squadrons, U.S. Army aviators from Fort Wainwright’s 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Alaska State Troopers, and civilian search and rescue professional volunteers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The collaborative training drew on the participants’ varied backgrounds, experiences, and practices, to enhance hoist proficiency and collective readiness when conducting life-saving search and rescue missions in Alaska’s vast and austere terrain. (Alaska Army National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)
Alaska Air Guard Conducts Multiple Hoist Rescues of Stranded Rafters on Kichatna River
By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, | Aug. 29, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard members with the 176th Wing rescued three rafters Aug. 28 after their raft flipped over on the Kichatna River.The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened...