FORT STEWART, Ga. (May 19, 2016) -- Food service specialist for the Spartan Dining Facility, DFAC, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, are preparing for The Philip A. Connelly Competition, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 22.
"The Philip A. Connelly is a competition where you compete against other installations across the Army to see who has the best dining facility," said Sgt. 1st Class Denny Joseph, DFAC manager with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd IBCT.
Contestants are judged on food handling procedures, menu preparation, food sanitation, as well as participating in troop morale, organization and presentation.
"For the whole year you get to say you are the best the Army has to offer when it comes to food service," Joseph said. "It's like the super bowl, you can't get higher than winning the Connelly. It's a great competition. Soldiers get to show their talent and skills and see who comes out on top."
"Who doesn't like to be competitive," said Spc. Shaneika Jackson, Spartan DFAC administrative clerk of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT. "If we win everyone will know we are the best DFAC."
These culinary specialists have been striving to perfect meal preparation and sanitation.
"We had a lot of training," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charity Dunhan, food service advisor with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd IBCT. "It takes about three months to really know we are on point and can take on that trophy."
2nd Brigade is not new to this competition. The Spartan DFAC won the Philip A. Connelly for best DFAC in the Army in 2013 and are ready to take back the trophy.
"We have character," Jackson said. "Not everybody puts their heart in their food, but we have a lot of noncommissioned officers and specialists that really care about what they are putting on the line."
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