Duke Field dining facility wins AF honors

  • Published
  • By Dan Neely
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Reservists from a Duke Field unit were recently named winners of an Air Force-level food services award. Representing the Air Force Reserve Command category, the 919th Force Support Squadron has won the 2012 Hennessy Trophy presented to Air Force installations with the best food service programs.

Winners were awarded for demonstrated excellence in management effectiveness, force-readiness support, food quality, employee and customer relations, resource conservation, training and safety awareness, officials said.

"By winning this prestigious Air Force level food service award, it shows that our 20-plus person unit can compete with the best of them," said Tech. Sgt. Melissa Habermeyer, a unit supervisor. "With us being a two day a month operational facility the whole team contributed extra hours to ensure paperwork was completed. The facility was in Golden Eagle Standards, which would ensure that we receive maximum points on the facility checklist."

Since 2000, Duke Field's dining facility has won the Hennessy Award seven times. And in addition to the recent overall unit award, Staff Sgt. Maria Bryant garnered an individual trophy - the Hennessy Travelers Association Award of Excellence. The award is bestowed on one member within the winning unit who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism, attitude and culinary skills.

"Sergeant Bryant displayed outstanding professionalism and knowledge of storeroom operations on a daily basis," Habermeyer said. "This was evident to the inspectors by the appearance, organization and accuracy in the storeroom, which is one of the many reasons she was awarded the TA."