The aroma of food wafted through the air as Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Unit, Headquarters Group competed in the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Awards for Food Service Excellence competition at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 15. The unit was in competition with units from I and III Marine Expeditionary Force.
The W.P.T. Hill Award was established in 1985 to improve food service operations and recognize the best messes in the Marine Corps.
“The Marines will be cooking to show off not only their knowledge but their skills as well,” said Cpl. Nicholas Kovacs, a food service specialist with II MHG. “It’s a collective effort between all the Marines at every level to prove we are the best mess in the Marine Corps.”
The awards program for food service excellence is a means to recognize those Marine Corps mess operations that are outstanding in the preparation and service of food, customer service, and management. Competitors are judged on areas such as kitchen operations, sanitation, and taste and quality of food.
“This is truly an important event because not only is it a friendly competition, but we as food service Marines get to showcase our abilities and prove what we can offer the Marine Corps,” said Gunnery Sgt. Diordane Pierrelouis. “It is truly a humbling experience to have come so far and we hope that we can bring the award to II MHG and II MEF as a whole.”
The award program is not only sponsored by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, but also the National Restaurant Association.
“A fed Marine is an active Marine, and an active Marine is a dangerous one,” said Pierrelouis.
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