• USAG CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea
As part of an Army-wide initiative to modernize its foodservice program, the Eighth Army celebrated the grand opening of the Culinary Outpost food truck behind Maude Hall on June 9.
The Army currently boasts a fleet of about 50 Culinary Outposts and Kiosks on its garrisons worldwide, with the goal of providing healthy, convenient and affordable meals to Soldiers in support of readiness and quality of life.
“This is a morale booster for our warfighters,” Chief Warrant Officer 2 Darien Greene, 1st Signal Brigade Culinary Outpost officer in charge, said as he kicked off the event. “It’s a reminder that even the smallest innovations can make the biggest impacts.”
According to Greene, at Camp Humphreys, the 403rd Army Field Support Battalion-Korea assists in providing funding, training and sourcing all supplies for the Culinary Outpost.
MOVING AROUND
The Camp Humphreys Culinary Outpost served breakfast and lunch during its initial week before it was deployed to the DSTB Motor Pool across from Central Issue Facility, June 16-20, and Semaphore DFAC the following week, June 23-27.
“We’ll move around — range areas, motor pools, rail load-ups — anywhere we have high traffic areas of Soldiers,” said Reginald Houston, USAG Camp Humphreys Food Program manager.
Houston said units can also request the truck for training events; however, this service is not for unit picnics.
The mobile kitchen, which Houston described as an extension of the dining facility, can feed up to 250 customers.
And the price is right, too. There’s no charge for meal card holders; for all others, it is the same price as the DFAC.
GRAND OPENING
As the grand opening coincided with the first day of Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) Friendship Week, it was fitting that the Culinary Outpost’s first few customers were KATUSAs. This year marks the 75th anniversary of program.
Also among the first patrons were Brig. Gen. Sean Crockett, Eighth Army acting commander, his wife, Natalie, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robin Bolmer, Eighth Army’s senior enlisted adviser.
“This is a true sign of teamwork — of leaders getting involved to help our Soldiers,” Bolmer said.
Inside the food truck, five Soldiers jockeyed for position as they cooked and filled orders. Sgt. 1st Class September Harris, Culinary Outpost Food Program manager, handed out orders.
For Harris, who has been finalizing the details for the past few months to get the project rolling, the launch was satisfying.
“It’s been a good journey,” she said. “We’re ready to feed the troops.”
The truck’s location and menu will be posted on Eighth Army’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Eighth.Army.Korea).
Source: USAG Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Public Affairs via DVIDS
Edited by Larry Lapka
