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Fort Novosel leaders serve up food and fellowship for a DFAC Thanksgiving

By Brittany Trumbull, Fort Novosel Public AffairsNovember 24, 2023

Fort Novosel Garrison Commander, Col. John P. Miller, carved roast at the DFAC Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Novosel Garrison Commander, Col. John P. Miller, carved roast at the DFAC Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Brittany Trumbull) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Col. Mark Axtell, 1-145th Aviation Regiment Commander, Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Commanding General, and CW5 Mike Corsaro, Chief Warrant Officer of the Aviation Branch, and other...
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Mark Axtell, 1-145th Aviation Regiment Commander, Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Commanding General, and CW5 Mike Corsaro, Chief Warrant Officer of the Aviation Branch, and other USAACE leaders serve the Thanksgiving meal at the DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Leslie Herlick) VIEW ORIGINAL
Col. Kevin E. McHugh, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, serves the Thanksgiving meal at the Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Kevin E. McHugh, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, serves the Thanksgiving meal at the Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Brittany Trumbull) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. -- Traditional Thanksgiving meals are a combination of feast and family, but many service members know that the term “family” may look different from year to year. Some years are at home with family, some are overseas, and some may be spent during stateside training. Fort Novosel leaders understand that sacrifice all too well and joined the dining facility staff to provide a memorable holiday meal on Nov. 21.

Both dining facilities (DFAC) offered extensive menus including the traditional turkey and pie as well as salmon, shrimp cocktail, cheeseboards, soups, cake, and even a carving station. Janet Mitchell, DFAC project manager, said that her team made sure all details were covered from decorations to food presentations.

Decorative table displays at the Fort Novosel DFAC during the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023.
Decorative table displays at the Fort Novosel DFAC during the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Brittany Trumbull) VIEW ORIGINAL

“My staff and I put our vision together and we just go,” she said. “The tradition started long before I came here 17 years ago, and we want to make it better every year.”

The quality of food served on Thanksgiving is top-notch, but the quantity is even more impressive.

“We order and serve 700 lbs. of turkey, 300 lbs. of ham, 500 lbs. of beef, 40 lbs. of vegetables and deserts to feed about 400 people,” Mitchell said.

Leaders from the United States Army Aviation Center, the Fort Novosel Garrison, the Warrant Officer Career College, 1st Aviation Brigade, and others donned gloves and aprons as they served graciously beside the DFAC staff. Fort Novosel Garrison Commander, Col. John P. Miller, took the lead in carving and serving the massive roast beef. The chatter and humor shared between Fort Novosel leadership and trainees lit up the room with holiday spirit.

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher T. Doss and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jennifer Wolf serve the Thanksgiving meal at Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher T. Doss and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jennifer Wolf serve the Thanksgiving meal at Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Brittany Trumbull) VIEW ORIGINAL
Senior leaders from Fort Novosel stand with dining facility team members at the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Senior leaders from Fort Novosel stand with dining facility team members at the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Contributed Photo) VIEW ORIGINAL

“Besides the amount of good food, everyone really enjoys the fellowship that these holiday meals bring,” Mitchell said. “Twenty-six people per day are staffed between two facilities for this meal, so those that volunteer to serve really make a difference. We are one team, one fight. “

Mitchell said that everyone here goes above and beyond to make sure that our Soldiers can have the taste of home right here on Fort Novosel. The effort and care didn’t go unnoticed as uniformed soldiers and families alike shared meals over beautiful decorations and unmatched comradery.

Fort Novosel trainees pray together before the Thanksgiving meal at the DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Novosel trainees pray together before the Thanksgiving meal at the DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Leslie Herlick) VIEW ORIGINAL
Warrant Officer Candidates eat a Thanksgiving meal at Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Warrant Officer Candidates eat a Thanksgiving meal at Fort Novosel DFAC on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo Credit: Brittany Trumbull) VIEW ORIGINAL

Holiday meals are special occasions at the dining facilities on Fort Novosel. These traditions will continue because of the volunteers and employees who join together making them truly Above the Best.

To see more photos from the Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 21 head to the FLICKR link https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB4epp

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