SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Food service Soldiers from 25th Infantry Division and 8th Theater Sustainment Command participated in the Advanced Culinary Arts Training Program at Bronco Dining Facility here, July 7-23.
The program is designed to improve the overall skills of Army cooks in menu selection, preparation, cooking and presentation of meals.
Some of the training techniques taught were classical knife cuts, stock production, mother sauces, fine dining service and buffet production, said Sgt. 1st Class Erika Kelley, the senior food operations noncommissioned officer for 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th MP Brigade, 8th TSC.
On this final day of training, the 12 students prepared and served four-course meals consisting of a salad, soup, entrée and dessert to leaders from 25th ID and 8th TSC.
"Today's training was intended to give our students a different outlook to the normal daily training we do," Kelley said. "It was geared towards the special duty positions that are available to 92Gs [food service Soldiers] such as Enlisted Aid and the C20 Program."
The C20 Program is a nominative program that trains Army cooks to perform their job as flight stewards for military aircraft.
"The training was really good. They taught us a lot, like baking, cooking and how to do it from scratch," said Spc. John Paul Rodriguez, a food service specialist with 29th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th ID.
Following the food service, the students received certificates signifying their completion of the culinary arts class.
"We hope that the NCOs and Soldiers use the train-the-trainer concept and spread their knowledge to their peers to make the overall dining experience better in our dining facilities," Kelley said. "They learned so many cost effective meals."
With the training complete, the students will return to their unit DFACs to use their newly acquired culinary skills and help train their coworkers in culinary arts.
"I just want to say thank you for all the support from the cooks, all the support from the battalion, company and Schofield Barracks," Rodriguez said. "I hope all the cooks can go to this class."
Social Sharing