ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- It was not a food fight in the traditional sense, but the 919th Services Flight at Duke Field, Fla., reclaimed the title as best dining facility in Air Force Reserve Command.
The scrap began last year when the 911th SVF’s Long Dining Facility staff at Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., won the command’s John L. Hennessy Award. Duke Field had claimed the award in 2000, 2002 and 2003.
In addition to Pittsburgh this year, the Duke Field staff competed against dining facilities at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn., and Niagara Falls IAP ARS, N.Y.
Although important, palate-pleasing food is not the only ingredient for success. This year, as in years past, Master Sgt. Jeffery Smithers of the Headquarters AFRC Directorate of Services evaluated command food service in five major categories -- kitchen operations; serving and dining operations; training, personnel and readiness; sanitation and repair maintenance; and management.
Each year the Reserve, the active force and the Air National Guard select the best dining facilities in their respective categories. Reservists from the Duke Field dining facility staff, along with the winning representatives from the active force and the Guard, will receive their awards during an awards banquet at the National Restaurant Association convention in Chicago in May.