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Summary:
Every day, more than one million meals are prepared in
military kitchens. Some kitchens prepare thousands of
meals at one time, while others prepare food for small
groups of people. Food service specialists prepare all
types of food according to standard and dietetic recipes.
They also order and inspect food supplies and prepare
meats for cooking. |
What They Do:
Food service specialists in the military perform some or
all of the following duties:
Order, receive, and inspect meat, fish, fruit, and
vegetables Prepare standard cuts of meat using cleavers,
knives, and bandsaws Cook steaks, chops, and roasts Bake
or fry chicken, turkey, and fish Prepare gravies and
sauces Bake breads, cakes, pies, and pastries Serve food
in dining halls, hospitals, field kitchens, or aboard ship
Clean ovens, stoves, mixers, pots, and utensils |
Training
Provided:
Job training consists of nine to 14 weeks of classroom
instruction, including practice in food preparation.
Training length varies depending on specialty. Course
content typically includes:
Standard and dietetic menus and recipes Preparation and
cooking of various foodstuffs and bakery products Food and
supply ordering Storage of meats, poultry, and other
perishable items
Further training occurs on the job and through advanced
courses. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps offer certified
apprenticeship programs for some specialties in this
occupation.
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Civilian
Counterparts:
Civilian food service specialists work in cafés,
restaurants, and cafeterias. They also work in hotels,
hospitals, manufacturing plants, schools, and other
organizations that have their own dining facilities.
Depending on specialty, food service specialists are
called cooks, chefs, bakers, butchers, or meat cutters. |
Helpful
Attributes:
Helpful school subjects include home economics, health,
mathematics, accounting, and chemistry. Helpful attributes
include:
Interest in cooking Interest in working with the hands |
Work
Environment:
Food service specialists normally work in clean, sanitary
kitchens and dining facilities. They may sometimes work in
refrigerated meat lockers. Sometimes they work outdoors in
tents while preparing and serving food under field
conditions. |
Physical
Demands:
Food service specialists may have to lift and carry heavy
containers of foodstuffs and large cooking utensils. |
Special
Requirements:
There are no special requirements for this career. |
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