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 | Dec. 24, 2008

Virginia Guard unit cooks up food service win

By Maj. Cotton Puryear Virginia National Guard

FORT PICKETT, Va. - The 1032nd Transportation Company of the Virginia National Guard has won the Department of the Army's annual Philip A. Connelly Award for Excellence in Army Food Service in the National Guard Field Kitchen category.

"The food service staffs of these units deserve special recognition for their contribution toward improving the Army's food service program, and for their superior efforts in enhancing the quality of food service for our Soldiers," said John Q. McNulty, chief of the Food, Liquid Logistics and Field Services Division for Department of the Army. "All finalists displayed high standards of excellence; were very competitive; and are congratulated for their outstanding performance."

McNulty sent notifications to the winning units via email Dec. 19.

Soldiers from the unit prepared their meal for the competition at Fort Pickett in October. They competed against National Guard units from six other regions across the country and were judged in 11 different categories that ranged from sanitation to the quality of the food. The unit will receive the actual award during ceremonies scheduled April 2-5, 2009 in Atlanta.

"I am so proud of all the Soldiers in the company and want to give my thanks to those involved with this year's competition that made this win possible," said Capt. Alexandre Oryschak, the unit commander.

"This is the second consecutive year that the 1032nd has participated and was selected as both the state and regional Connelly champion," said Lt. Col. Doug Messner, commander of the 1030th Transportation Battalion. "Winning the overall competition this year is confirmation of what we've known at the 1032nd and the battalion staff for many years: the combination of great teamwork, commitment to providing the Soldiers the best food service possible and the energy and camaraderie of the team is electrifying."

The commander of the 329th Regional Support Group, Col. Timothy Williams, echoed Messner's assessment. "Winning the Connelly competition is a true reflection of a great unit with a history of outstanding performance in food service operations."

The Connelly program is named in honor of Philip A. Connelly, past president of the International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA), who is highly regarded as the driving force behind obtaining IFSEA sponsorship for the Department of the Army's recognition of excellence in Army food service.

The program is co-sponsored by the Department of the Army and IFSEA. IFSEA representatives participate in the evaluation of finalists in five dining facility categories: small garrison, large garrison and field kitchens in the active Army, U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard.

U.S. Army Center of Excellence and Subsistence and IFSEA evaluators traveled around the world during the past three months to obtain first-hand knowledge of how Army food service personnel perform their jobs.

All the finalists were evaluated in a number of areas, including food preparation, taste, nutrition, service and sanitation.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group prepare dummies for a simulated casualty evacuation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2025. The 108th Medical Company engaged in a weeklong field medical exercise to validate their readiness and elevate their medical and basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Christopher Booker)
Pennsylvania Guard Medics Simulate Chaos in Exercise
By Capt. Christopher Booker, | July 18, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group, are engaged in a comprehensive two-week field medical exercise here.The...

Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Maintenance Group and 152nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel load Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipment onto MAFFS #8, aircraft #554 at the Nevada Air National Guard Base on July 12, 2025. U.S. Northern Command activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Aircraft, one from the 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in California. Two C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS and their associated personnel will support firefighting efforts in the Western United States. The 152nd Airlift Wing’s “High Rollers” and 146th Airlift Wing's “Hollywood Guard” report on July 14, 2025, and will be initially based out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in California and are anticipated to be in place through August 14, 2025.
Nevada Air Guard Wing Assists in Firefighting Efforts
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | July 18, 2025
RENO, Nev. – U.S. Northern Command has activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Aircraft, one from the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the adjutant general of Texas, for an aerial assessment of flood-affected areas in Central Texas and to visit Guardsmen on duty supporting civil authorities with response efforts, Kerrville, Texas, July 15, 2025. To date, National Guard search and rescue operations, led by the Texas National Guard, have resulted in the rescue of more than 525 Texans. Hundreds of Guardsmen remain on mission to continue working with interagency partners in search and rescue and recovery operations.
Nordhaus, Raines see Heroism, Partnerships in Central Texas
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | July 18, 2025
KERRVILLE, Texas – Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding.Within hours, Texas National Guard...