• CHICAGO
The military’s top foodservice units were honored on May 19 at the 2025 Military Foodservice Awards, an event that gathered restaurant industry leaders to highlight the support and sustenance provided by individuals in the foodservice occupation in America’s armed forces.
Hosted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), the 2025 Military Foodservice Awards highlighted units that have demonstrated exceptional mastery of core restaurant industry standards, including food safety and sanitation, preparation, and execution.
Winning units from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Military Sealift Command were honored during the award presentation.
The awards ceremony kicked off a weekend of celebratory events for winning foodservice teams at the National Restaurant Association Show in conjunction with Armed Forces Day on May 17.
Members of these teams spent three days participating in the Foundation’s Advanced Management Training Program, where they learned about industry career pathways, the fundamentals of restaurant management and leadership, and developed their own restaurant concepts.
The weekend also offered winners the chance to visit the National Restaurant Association Show and complete their Professional Certification through ServSuccess.
ESSENTIAL ROLE
Military foodservice professionals play an essential role in ensuring force readiness across the globe, serving meals and nourishing their fellow service members — whether at home, deployed, or at-sea.
Collectively, these units prepare and serve thousands of meals each year, frequently in logistically complex environments like ship galleys, submarines, and forward operating bases (FOB).
“These foodservice professionals are tremendously important to the success of the restaurant industry,” said Michelle Korsmo, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Restaurant Association and NRAEF CEO.
“It is such a privilege to honor these individuals who do so much for their fellow service members,” she said. “We’re grateful for their dedication to serving their country and each other.”
NRAEF President Rob Gifford said, “Military foodservice teams are exceptionally skilled in creating and serving meals that nourish and sustain, and they do it multiple times each day in some of the most challenging environments in the world.
“The Foundation is deeply committed to equipping them with top-tier skills to execute this important work and building pathways into our industry once they are ready to transition to a civilian career.”
WINNERS
The following units were recognized as 2025 Military Foodservice Award winners:
- Philip A. Connelly Awards, honoring the Army:
Active Army Field Feeding Company Winner: 581st Quartermaster Company, 2nd Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Humphreys, Korea
Active Army Brigade Support Battalion Winner: 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Liberty, N.C.
United States Army Reserve Field Kitchen Winner: 1003rd Quartermaster Field Feeding Detachment, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Las Vegas, Nev.
Army National Guard Field Kitchen Winner: I Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, Omaha, Neb.
- Major General W.P.T. Hill Memorial Awards, honoring the Marine Corps:
Best Management and Mess Attendant Mess Hall: Anderson Mess Hall, MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Marine Corps Installations Pacific
Best Full Foodservice Mess Hall: Mess Hall 622, MCAS Yuma, Ariz., Marine Corps Installations West
Best Active Field Mess: Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Forces Pacific
Best Reserve Field Mess: Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserves
- Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards, honoring the Navy:
Small East Coast Platform Winner: USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), Rota, Spain
Small West Coast Platform Winner: USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Medium East Coast Platform Winner: USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), Norfolk, Va.
Medium West Coast Platform Winner: USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52), San Diego, Calif.
Large Platform Winner: USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), Yokosuka, Japan
Submarine Platform Winner: USS Annapolis (SSN-760), Guam
Aircraft Carrier Platform Winner: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Norfolk, Va.
East Coast General Mess Winner: Roy M. Wheat Galley, NAS Meridian, Miss.
West Coast General Mess Winner: Mercer Hall Galley, NB San Diego, Calif.
OCONUS General Mess Winner: Ristorante Bella Etna, NAS Sigonella, Italy
- Captain David M. Cook Food Service Excellence Awards, honoring the Military Sealift Command:
Small Ship Category: USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7), Orange City, Texas
Medium Ship Category: USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), Norfolk, Va.
Large Ship Category: USNS William Mclean (T-AKE-12), Norfolk, Va.
Hybrid Ship Category: USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), Gaeta, Italy
- John L. Hennessy Awards for Excellence, honoring the Air Force:
Missile Alert Field Feeding Operation: 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
Small Sites: 701st Munitions Support Squadron, Kleine-Brogel AB, Belgium
Active Duty Foodservice Operations Region One Winner: 786th Force Support Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
Active Duty Foodservice Operations Region Two Winner: 374th Force Support Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
Air Force Reserves Foodservice Operations Winner: 442nd Force Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth W. Disney Foodservice Award Winner: 138th Force Support Squadron, Tulsa, Okla.
In addition to its annual Military Foodservice Awards, the Foundation provides training through its Advanced Culinary Training Program (ACTP), connects transitioning military to apprenticeship opportunities, and provides scholarships to support military and veterans pursuing post-secondary education in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Visit ChooseRestaurants.org/military to learn more.
Source: National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)
Edited by Larry Lapka
