2nd RTBn. wins CG's Best Mess Hall of the Quarter

9 Apr 2004 | Lance Cpl. Brian Kester Marine Corps Training and Education Command

The 2nd RTBn. Mess Hall was awarded the Commanding General's Best Mess Hall of the Quarter April 1.

This is the first time that the award has been given since Sodexo took control of Depot food service, and it will stand as the guide by which this award will be given in the future.

"We are setting a standard for everyone else to strive for," said Fred Europe, general manager of 2nd RTBn. Mess Hall. "This is a special way for [the employees] to see the rewards of what they have been asked to do up to this point."

Europe is a retired Marine who went to recruit training at 2nd RTBn., and ate his first Marine Corps meal in the same mess hall he now works in.

"Being a former Marine, [I know that] we don't like to lose," said Europe. "I thought it was the right thing for us to be the first ones to win this award."

While Europe is striving to set the standards, Maj. James McCoy, director of food services for the Depot, is trying to further inspire a sense of elevated quality within the mess halls.

"I elected to reinstitute this award to generate pride among the workers and to generate the spirit of competition among the mess halls," he said. "The intent is that the recruits and permanent personnel will receive quality products and quality services."

Those traits are scrutinized and judged from one mess hall to the next, looking for that special something that separates the one from the many.

"Several categories of the various functions of the mess hall were evaluated," said McCoy. "Food production, sanitation, product quality, teamwork and general mess hall administration were assessed. Out of the six mess halls, this one stood out in the evaluation process."

John Benke, regional vice- president for Sodexo, saw the characteristic that put 2nd RTBn. Mess Hall in front of the others, simple concern for a job well done.

"We take great pride in the opportunity of being able to be recognized by our clients," said Benke. "This is awesome, they all get the same pay and have the same responsibilities, but the distinguishing mark from this mess hall is that they care. [It matters] that they take care of the recruits who come through the door."

Those recruits may seem to look alike and act alike, they may even blend one into the next, but Europe never lets anyone forget what the recruits and the Sodexo employees are here for.

Europe often looks out the window and focuses on the recruits in line, all the while asking himself, "Why am I looking at these recruits?"

"Then it hit me," said Europe. "Six months to a year from now, these guys could be in the desert some place and for a brief moment coming through this line we will be able to touch that persons life. I shared that with the folks here."

"I let them know that these are the guys who are going out to defend your freedom and that we aren't just slopping food, this is something special. If I can get them to understand that side of it, then it will give that much more meaning to what they do," he added.





Marine Corps Training and Education Command