CAMP CASEY, South Korea - In a continued demonstration of their culinary excellence, the 210th Field Artillery Brigade was recently named the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division and Area I's best dining facility for the third fiscal quarter during an awards presentation July 8 at the Thunder Inn DFAC on Camp Casey.
Maj. Gen. Theodore D. Martin and Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew J. Spano attended Thursday's event to present the facility's manager, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Dent, with a first-place gold platter and check totaling $2,500.
Eight dining facilities were in contention for the award, with the division's food service team conducting comprehensive inspections to evaluate DFAC operations at each respective facility, according to Master Sgt. Nia Hunter, the brigade's senior culinary management noncommissioned officer.
"This is really important, for the morale of the Thunder Brigade and to recognize the dining facility for what they do," said Spano, the division's senior enlisted leader. "They have a sign out front that says they're the best in 2014. There's a reason why they keep on winning."
Since the turn of the year Thunder Inn has received the general's top title in two out of the three quarters, an achievement Hunter hopes puts the facility on track to win two consecutive DFAC of the Year titles.
"We dare our food service Soldiers to be great and they always step to the plate," said Hunter, an Erie, Pennsylvania, native. "The Soldiers are quiet professionals that strive for greatness on a daily basis."
Thunder Inn operates on a foundation of pride and discipline where Soldiers' performances are evaluated with every meal served, said Hunter.
That requires every chef to focus their utmost attention on every facet of their craft In order to provide patrons with the highest quality service and remain competitive among other facilities, she said.
In addition to garnering the third quarter title, two of Thunder Inn's top Soldiers were also recognized as the division's Senior and Junior Chef of the Quarter.
For their individual merits, Sgt. Schuyler K. Winters and Spc. Dorthea A. Virgil, both food service Soldiers assigned to the brigade's 70th Brigade Support Battalion, received the Army Achievement Medal and high praises from the division's command team.
"It feels almost surreal," said Winters, a Jacksonville, Florida, native. "It's a good feeling."
For Winters, the accomplishment is more than just being recognized as the best, it's an opportunity to make good on a promise after finishing as the runner-up in last quarter's competition.
Both Soldiers competed during the Eighth Army Chef of the Quarter competition, with Winters winning the senior chef title and Virgil rounding out as the runner up in the junior chef category, said Dent.
"I applaud you on the great work you have done," said Martin of Winters, Virgil and the Thunder Inn management. "I'm really excited that I've inherited this program. We're going to take it even higher."
Social Sharing