ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – The Army Food Modernization Program has and will continue to provide a variety of options to meet the needs of Soldiers. It provides nutritious food, increases morale and welfare, supports recruitment and retention, promotes unit cohesion across the Army, and applies 21st century ideas and concepts to keep Soldiers in peak fighting condition. It is an ambitious and evolving program that aims to keep the
“The end state of the Army Food Modernization Program is a modernized, 21st century, best-in-class food service that is integrated and effectively resourced across the sustainment combat functions to ensure healthy, nourished, and “Soldiers that are optimized for physical and mental performance, and tailored for a wide range of operational and training environments,'' said Curtis, U.S. Army Sustainment Command program development and services, food advisor for support operations. Chief Warrant Officer Steinke explained.
Modernization applies to all areas of the Army, including food. In 2019, Army G-4 revised Army Regulation 30-22, the Army Food Program, and created a modernized culinary services program initiative, Steineke said.
The ASC's broad mission includes tasks that impact all aspects of defense logistics. The ASC is responsible for acquiring and moving essential supplies, maintaining critical equipment, and ensuring that the Army's logistics needs are efficiently met around the world. The company performs numerous logistics services and missions around the world every day, supporting wherever soldiers are stationed, including Warrior Restaurants.
ASC is therefore responsible for supporting 187 Warrior restaurants located in the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea, playing a key role in food modernization. These restaurants support soldiers of all ranks and are often open to civilians, spouses, and family members who work at the facility.
Mr. Steineke recently worked with officials from the Army Center of Excellence, Self-Sufficiency, and the U.S. Army Materiel Command to evaluate the Army Food Program, conducting site visits to multiple Warrior restaurants in Baumholder and Kaiserslautern, Germany. I returned from
“Soldiers voted with their feet and told us they wanted it,” Steineke said. “They want flexible feeding options. They want the ability to grab and move. They want to take their meals and consume them elsewhere because of their busy schedules and work-life balance. .”
One example is the Raptor Warrior Restaurant at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, which is supported by the ASC and allows soldiers to “grab and go” two meals a day, called the Army Meal Preparation Program.
“This is important for Soldiers because there are a lot of people who don't have access to dining facilities,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Sumpter, Raptor Warrior Restaurant Manager. “We provide a service that allows you to eat the day's meals without wasting anything.”
“I love this program,” said Sgt. Tyler Bonner is a regular customer at the Warrior restaurant. “It saves a lot of time in a busy military schedule. He also loves that he gets two meals for lunch and dinner.”
Another example of modernization is providing soldiers with multiple locations and options instead of just one. Culinary outposts like kiosks and food trucks can help you deliver food to your soldiers.
“It's all about access,” Steineke said. “How can we ensure that soldiers have access to a variety of healthy, nutritious foods, where and how they want?”
There are currently 19 food trucks and 12 kiosks at installations across the Army.
The kiosks will offer grab-and-go nutritional products, including fresh produce, fruit, and beverages. For the operation he requires 2 to 4 of his 92G soldiers (food service specialists) and is managed by an installed central kitchen (Steineke) with a microwave oven and hot drinks. Said.
Food trucks are mobile platforms that can feed up to 200 soldiers at a time. The menu is nutritious, easy to prepare, and supports soldiers' lives, work, and training. On the truck, he explained, he needs three to four food service professionals, with support from a central kitchen and ancillary dining facilities.
“Customers pay for meals at food trucks and kiosks in the same way they pay for meals at Warrior restaurants, except food trucks do not accept credit cards and do not have Wi-Fi capabilities. '' Steineke said.
He added that, similar to the Warrior Restaurant, access to this service will be determined by the facility's commander.
Another example that's gearing up is Fort Cavazos, Texas, which is upping its game in a big way with something called “The 254 Blend,” a coffee bar that serves a variety of hot coffee blends.
In March, a ceremony was held to mark the opening of The 254 Blend at the Operation Iraq Freedom Dining Facility.
“Coffee has a deep history within the military, with its origins dating back to the Civil War. It is both a valuable item and a source of morale for soldiers during training, deployment, and daily operations. '254' Abbreviation for Cavazos Fortress [telephone] area code,” said Chontrelle Sturdivant, installation food program manager for the Army Field Support Battalion Cavazos Supply and Services Division, a subordinate of the ASC.
“The 254 Blend has been installed in two food and beverage facilities so far,” said AFBSn-Cavazos Commander Richard Martinez. “By mid-May 2024, we expect to have two additional food and beverage facilities at The 254 Blend.”
So far, the coffee bar has proven to be a huge hit.
“The 254 blend maintains that traction and excitement,” Sturdivant said. “We used up six weeks' worth of coffee inventory at Prime Vendor in one week, and orders increased to meet demand.”
“The Army is constantly updating menus. It's an ongoing process,” Steineke said.
In line with the Army's priorities of talent, modernization and readiness, further changes will occur as the Army continues to modernize its food program to fit Soldier needs and preferences, Steineke said.
Editor's note: Article and photo information contributed to this product from Cameron Porter, 405th AFSB Public Affairs. Special Callesia Gator, First Corps Public Relations Officer. Samantha Harms, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs Officer. and ASC Public Relations Officer John Michael Connor.
The article is as follows:
“Team, Facility, Program: 3 Reasons Knight's Lair is One of the Army's Best Warrior Restaurants” — https://www.army.mil/article/271399
“Army Food Program Evaluation Team visits Rhineland-Palatinate to learn about soldiers' needs” — https://www.army.mil/article/274322
“Raptor Warrior Restaurants Launch Army Meal Prep Program” — https://www.army.mil/article/274320
254 Blend is currently brewing hot coffee for soldiers at Fort Cavazos
https://www.army.mil/article/275095
Photographed: May 16, 2024 Posted: May 16, 2024 14:23 Story ID: 471450 Location: Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, USA Web views: 8 Downloads: 0 Public domain
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