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MILITARY CULINARY AWARDS WRAP-UP

Connelly Unites Team

JB Lewis-McChord Applies Lessons, Raises Performance

commitment to teamwork enabled Joint Base Lewis-
A McChord’s 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 7th
Infantry Division to maintain the level of performance
required to advance through every round of evaluations
and be selected the 2018 Military Garrison Philip A. Con-
nelly Award winner.
“This has been a long, hard road, and we have gained a
lot of experience and knowledge through the journey,” said
Master Sgt. Candice Williamson, senior brigade culinary
management non-commissioned officer, 16th CAB. “Simply
put, we are the best. We took the constructive criticism at
every level of this competition and implemented changes.”
Teams competing in the annual Connelly competition
face rigorous evaluations from judges through multiple
rounds. To receive the award, the 16th CAB underwent administration; headcount In the final round last January, the
preliminary round evaluations from 7th Infantry Division, procedures; receipt and stor- 16th CAB competed against four
I Corps, and the 404th Army Field Support Brigade over age operations; food service other regional award recipients and
was selected as the overall winner
the course of several months. sanitation and safety; com- in the Connelly’s Garrison category.
Finalists not eliminated in the preliminary and regional mand support; appearance
rounds go on to be evaluated in the final Department of and attitude of food service personnel; serving and troop
the Army level of the competition. In the final round last accountability; dining area; equipment and safety; and food
January, the 16th CAB competed against four other regional preparation and quality.
award recipients and was selected as the overall winner in Garrison evaluation encompasses two complete meals,
the Connelly’s Garrison category. breakfast and lunch, prepared in a 24-hour period, and ex-
“We have worked together as a team in order to get to amines all facets of operation, giving the greatest emphasis
this level, and continue to grow and learn while moving to food quality and customer acceptance.
forward,” said Williamson, just before the final evaluation Evaluators measure each garrison team’s performance
in January. “We are confident and are looking forward to according to a checklist that comprises 10 separate catego-
the challenge at the DA level.” ries, each containing a set of criteria. Each criterion has its
own point value scale, which varies by category.
CRITERIA Each team’s final overall score is determined by adding
Judges, comprising representatives of the Joint Culinary the points it earned in each of the 10 category ratings.
Center of Excellence and civilians representing the National The maximum score a team can earn from each judge is
Restaurant Association, completed the final-round evalua- 1,000 points.
tion by observing the 16th CAB culinary team at work in The Philip A. Connelly program is a food service com-
the Raptor’s Nest petition facilitated by the Joint Culinary Center of Excel-
Dining Facility at lence, headquartered at Fort Lee, Va., in coordination with
Joint Base Lewis- the Department of the Army and the National Restaurant
McChord. Association.
Evaluators The competition provides opportunities to raise culinary
scored the unit excellence and professionalism in food service operations
in 11 areas in- throughout the Army
cluding: training Each level of evaluation helps the culinary teams to learn
and supervision; and improve their performance preparing daily meals in the
dining facility Raptor’s Nest, which contributes to raising the standard of
food service available to soldiers.
Col. Peter Crandall, commander, 404th Army Field Support
Brigade, presents the trophy for winning the 2018 Philip “Nerves are a part of the chal-
A. Connelly Regional Award in the Garrison Dining Facility lenge and will help us to grow
Category to Master Sgt. Candice Williamson, senior brigade and get better at this,” said Wil-
culinary management non-commissioned officer, 16th Combat
Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, during a ceremony at liamson. “Every step is a learning
the Raptors’ Nest Dining Facility, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, experience, and we are excited
Washington. (Photo by 1st Lt. Sean R. Cicogna, 404th AFSB) about the next level.” —GFS
28 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • JULY 2018