Have it your way - Medical battalion food servers compete for award of excellence

By Capt. Robert GallimoreJune 1, 2015

Feeding the force
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 30th Medical Brigade enjoy Asian cuisine for dinner while their field feeding team was judged for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's 2016 Philip A. Connelly competition at the Grafenwoehr Training Area May 28. Served for dinner ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Order up
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Andrew Venegas, a food service specialist with the 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), 30th Medical Brigade, serves an Asian cuisine dinner to Master Sgt. George Deloatch, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's food adviser, during U.S. A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Master to protege
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – On May 28 as dinner hours ended, Sgt. Rajindra Maniapen, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), 30th Medical Brigade's field feeding team discusses with 21st Theater Sustainment Command's food adviser,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

By Capt. Robert Gallimore

30th Medical Brigade Public Affairs

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - "In a field environment, the first interaction you most likely come across is your breakfast, and that interaction can really make or break your day," explained Master Sgt. George Deloatch, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's senior food advisor noncommissioned officer and one of two judges in the 21st TSC 2016 Philip A. Connelly Army Food Services Award competition.

On May 28 and 29, during 30th Medical Brigade's field exercise supporting U.S. Army Europe's Exercise Combined Resolve IV, the 421st Medical Battalion's (Multifunctional) food service experts were placed under the microscope as the TSC's Philip A. Connelly competition judges, Deloatch and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeffrey Manninen analyzed all aspects of their services. From kitchen establishment, meal preparation and cleanliness, to designed execution, customer service and food quality; all aspects of food services were meticulously inspected. As the TSC's senior food advisor, Manninen wanted to find out what really sets this field feeding team apart from the other.

"The devil is in the details of it all," said Manninen. "Do we see nutritional facts posted around the area? How are the self-serve items displayed? Are the servings portion controlled to fit inside the Surgeon General's Performance Triad guidance? Every unit who competes has all the basics down, as does this unit. Its what sets them apart that catches our eye."

The Department of the Army Philip A. Connelly Award program's objectives are to improve the professionalism of food service personnel, provide recognition for excellence in the preparation and serving of food in Army troop dining facilities and during field kitchen operations and provide added incentive to competitive programs across Army installations and commands through respectful competition and appropriate recognition.

The MMB's field feeding team is a group of food service specialists led by Sgt. Rajindra Maniapen. Their overall operations are supervised by the 30th Med. Bde.'s senior food advisor, Sgt. 1st Class Edwina Layne.

"Layne is a very integral part of Maniapen's operations," said Deloatch. "Without her (Layne) things can't be drilled down to better the food services program."

The 421st MMB is competing against one other unit in the 21st TSC, 23rd Ordnance Company of 16th Sustainment Brigade. The winner will represent the TSC during evaluations in July and August for the USAREUR competition. The Department of the Army competition will be held in March 2016.

Related Links:

21st TSC Web Page

30th MED BDE Web Page

421st MMB on FaceBook