• MCB HAWAII

Anderson Mess Hall was awarded the Major General William Pendleton Thompson Hill Memorial Award for Best Management and Mess Attendant Mess Hall for the 2025 calendar year.

The awards concluded a year-long competition recognizing the top mess halls in the Marine Corps. The categories for the awards included: Best Management and Mess Attendant, Best Full Food Service Mess Hall, Best Active Field Mess, and Best Reserve Field Mess.

Mess halls were judged by a Major General William Pendleton Thompson Hill Awards Evaluation team on their ability to manage their budget, maintain sanitation standards, and produce high-quality food.

HIGH STANDARDS

“Preparing for a competition like this is part of the job,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Morris Mayfield III, a food technician with Headquarters Battalion, MCB Hawaii. “Setting and upholding high standards for how we manage our facility is what keeps us competitive.”

Mayfield noted that one of the facility’s significant challenges during the competition was competing alongside some of the newer, more modern dining facilities in the Marine Corps.

The team showcased their exceptional capabilities and emerged victorious. He attributed the mess hall’s success this year to the dedication and hard work of both the Marines and civilian staff.

Mayfield said, “We all work with the same menus and are judged by the same standards. Everyone gave their best and worked together like a family, ensuring we hit every mark and truly stood out.”

This was the first time in nearly 20 years Anderson Mess Hall had won a category in the competition. “The award has brought a lot of attention and credit back to the facility and the base,” Mayfield said. “I’m excited to keep competing and upholding the high standard we’ve reached as a team.”

RECOGNITION

The winners were recognized and awarded a trophy at the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) Military and Food Military and Food Service Training event held in Chicago, Ill., from May 15 to May 19.

The Marines and civilian staff’s commitment to excellence at Anderson Mess Hall plays a vital role in sustaining force readiness by ensuring Marines are well-nourished and mission ready.

Source: MCB Hawaii Public Relations, via DVIDS

Edited by Larry Lapka