Currently Browsing: Stories
Cooking up a storm: Soldiers handle deployment in the kitchen
Monday, 20 October 2008
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – At the Coalition Café on Camp Victory, many people are working to help feed the troops and civilians that visit each day.
However, the responsibilities of the 10th Mountain Division Soldiers working there are different than those at Fort Drum.
Sergeant Dianara Easterwood, Coalition Café assistant manager and noncommissioned officer-in-charge of administration, is in charge of eight to 12 Soldiers who keep the dining facility running.
“We are here in place to oversee Kellogg, Brown and Root and to insure (they are) following their policy,” said Easterwood, a Providence, R.I., native. Approximately 85 to 135 KBR contractors work in the D-FAC, including subcontractors from Gulf Catering Company who cook the food and work the food lines.
Soldiers spend more time in the kitchen cooking and preparing meals in garrison than in Iraq. Here, the Soldiers deal more with taking head counts and pulling security near the guard posts, which are manned by Ugandan contract employees.
To keep an accurate head count, a Common Access Card register is placed at both entrances. Service members and Department of Defense civilians must scan their CAC prior to being served.
For others eating at the DFAC, they must show their I.D. card to the Soldier in charge of the register, who then marks them down. Approximately 2,800 to 3,200 people are served in the Coalition Café per meal, making the total of meals served per week approximately 72,000.
The CAC readers also allow the Soldiers to keep a record of who is entering the building.
“In case anything ever happens, we have a record of who came into the D-FAC,” said Spc. Joshua Simanteris, of Syracuse, N.Y., first cook. “Like if a mortar hits or something, they know exactly where that person was.”
Most Soldiers work 12-hour shifts, which includes their physical training time. Outside of meal times, Soldiers take part in sergeant’s time training and on the job training – which makes for a smoother transition when they go back home.
“They are learning their Military Occupational Specialties now, and learning how to be proficient in their MOS while we are here,” Easterwood said.
Simanteris expressed that things here help himself and fellow Soldiers to become stronger in their job skills, saying that Soldiers can learn more about their jobs and continue training to be future leaders.
“In a way, it’s kind of nice being here,” Easterwood said. “Even though we don’t do as much as we do back in garrison, it gives us the opportunity to take the Soldiers that just got out of Advanced Individual Training … and train them, giving them more one-on-one, hands-on training, and not have to train as we go while we’re in the kitchen.”
Easterwood feels that here she has become a better leader.
“I like the fact that I’ve been able to take on a lot more responsibility,” said Easterwood. “It’s shown me that I’m ready to take on the next step as a staff sergeant.”
Easterwood also sees increased maturity and advanced skills in her Soldiers since deploying.
“I’m proud of the growth that I’ve seen in these Soldiers since we’ve been here … and the responsibilities they take, (as well as) the drive to learn more about their MOS.”
Related Photographs
