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Competition. current industry practices. This training equated to all
Most notable was the overwhelming success of the current trends and successful practices top restaurants
new location at the MacLaughlin Fitness Center (MFC). are using. The military benefitted from this partnership
This was the first year that the event was held in the MFC. by exposing our junior leaders to better directions and
While some infrastructure enhancements had to be made, critical thinking. This event provided our culinarians the
the new location proved to be more than adequate and tools required to have a greater impact across multiple
will be the enduring home of the JCTE for years to come. formations affecting the morale of our units.
This year’s JCTE was held March 8 to 16. For 2018, we plan to acknowledge the 50th Anniversary
of the Philip A. Connelly Awards Program. Students will
Government Food Service: What plans does the Army again participate in training at Kendall College.
have for the Connelly awards in 2018? When are evaluations
scheduled and when will winners be announced? Bases were Government Food Service: The culinary training program
evaluated last year and awards presented in a joint event during the NRA evolved last year with a three-day program
at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) in Chicago. at Kendall College that included a day on the NRA exhibit
Tell us about how that went and plans for this year. floor. Is there anything you can tell us about response from
participants and the value to Army culinary specialists? Are
Coleman: During fiscal year 2018, the Philip A. Con- any changes planned for this year?
nelly evaluators will use a new and updated evaluation
checklist for both garrison and field feeding evaluations. Coleman: Feedback from the participants was phenom-
The new checklists are now in line with the all of the enal. The students truly enjoyed having the opportunity
Army Food Service initiatives and the Army Moderniza- to train with their sister services and learn from experts in
tion transformation. Both checklists contain 10 major the commercial food service world. The best part is that
categories, with specific subsections to assist evaluators they get to train with industry experts, and then go back
in all phases of the competition. Focus areas are training, to home station and demonstrate what they have learned,
readiness and innovation. Also new for 2018, we will field as well as pass along their new found knowledge to their
a garrison inspection team and a field feeding inspection co-workers to help them become better culinarians. No
team along with a Reserve and National Guard field feed- word from NRA concerning any changes this year.
ing team. Evaluations began Jan. 23 and will continue to
April 5. Winners will be announced by April 15. Government Food Service: Has the Army food service
On May 19, 2017, the Joint Culinary Center of Excel- program been influenced by or implemented any of the
lence, in conjunction with the National Restaurant Asso- dining facility design ideas presented during the three-day
ciation, held the annual joint services award ceremony. NRA training program in its food service operations?
The NRA-sponsored event took place in Chicago, Illinois,
and capstoned with selected service members attending Coleman: Much of what the Army Modernization
advanced culinary training at Kendall College. The training plan focuses on is ideas and strategies from the commercial
received at Kendall was world to enhance Army feeding. With the new evaluation
Soldiers order the first official meals served out the rigorous and challeng- checklists we should start seeing more benefit and func-
Fort Carson food truck following a grand open-
ing ceremony outside the Mountain Post Soldier ing, but provided our tionality directly learned for such
Center Sept. 6, 2017. The food truck is part of an culinarians an oppor- exposure in Army dining facilities Fort Carson culinary specialists
Army pilot program. Culinary specialists will serve tunity to understand in the very near future. —GFS work through customer food
breakfast and lunch from the truck at regular dining orders inside a 24-foot food
facility rates. All diners are welcome at the food truck during a training day for
truck, which accepts soldier meal cards and cash. staff last August, in preparation
(Photo by Scott Prater, Fort Carson public affairs.) for its grand opening on Sept.
6, 2017. (Photo by Scott Prater,
Fort Carson public affairs.)

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GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • APRIL 2018