442nd Services Flight adds food to the fight during ORE

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kent Kagarise
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 442nd Fighter Wing's services flight took advantage of a field-training opportunity during an operational-readiness exercise February 7 and 8 when they prepared unitized group rations for the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron.

The food service specialists prepared and served a breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, sausage links, hash browns, waffles and spiced apples.

The wing is preparing for its upcoming operational-readiness inspection in October and pinpointing those areas where minor adjustments might be made in order to make the wing more mission ready.

"We've had a lot of folks retire and are working toward training Airmen to fill those spots," said Tech Sgt. Eddie Norton, services flight non-commissioned officer in charge. "We hope to have all our troops familiar with the routine so that when the operational-readiness inspection comes around everybody will know everybody else's job."

Although many of the faces in the food-service section are unfamiliar to one another, they are pressing toward a familiar goal, which continues to unify them with each passing month.

"I was active duty four years and two months, where I was the go-to guy," said Senior Airman J.P. Summers, 442nd services flight and a Raytown Police officer in his civilian occupation. "I felt like I lost a lot of knowledge with my break in service. I still want to be the go-to guy so I've got to get it back. If a fellow Airman goes down I want to be more than ready to fill their shoes."

For many Airmen, throughout the wing, the exercises have been a chance to apply field training for the first time since technical school. The food-service section is no exception. What was once learned is now put into action in a fashion to prove combat readiness.

"I've been in the Air Force now for six months, so from technical school to here I haven't had much down time so nothing is all that shocking yet," said Airman Exzavery Watsonglaze, services specialist. "The biggest thing I've learned the past few days is nothing goes quite as planned. I just want to learn my job the best I can so I can be an asset to the team here and wherever else the Air Force calls me."

No matter the rank of any particular Airman the common theme is there will be obstacles to overcome during an ORE or an ORI. More importantly those same obstacles can occur in the field of battle.

"We had some problems getting the Babbington Burner up and going, which means we couldn't heat the tray rations," said Senior Airman Leonard Marks, 442nd Services Flight. "What's encouraging is that no matter the problem, with enough trouble-shooting, just about anything can be solved, and that's exactly what happened."

For a 15-year Marine and now two months in the Air Force, Tech. Sergeant Everett Samuels of the 442nd Services Flight said there isn't much difference between the branches when a person talks about the mess section.

"New and old we are all learning something every day," he said. " I'm familiar with everything in the kitchen but just like all non-commissioned officers, the challenge is to impart that same knowledge to our young Airmen."

Senior Airman Vernon Ivy was in Air Force intelligence for ten years - 12 years ago. Last March, Airman Ivy returned to the Air Force, where he calls the 442nd Services Flight his home.

"It's been a big change - not a bad one. The good thing about this job is we have an opportunity to affect everybody," Senior Airman Ivy said. "If the food isn't good or timely we have a major impact on morale and mission. We plan on that impact being a positive one."

There is a wide variety of jobs throughout the Air Force. Many professions Airman may never have the opportunity to come in contact with. Food service is an arena all Airman see up close and personnel from the beginning of an Air Force career all the way to retirement. Meal-time is often looked forward to throughout a rigorous day of training and can be fuel for the fight. The 442nd Services Flight intends for that fuel to be high octane.