Taste Test

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Shiela Leick, 23rd Force Support Squadron, left, shows Senior Master Sgt. Rosa Aumack, Air Combat Command food services management, the various foods prepared for an ice breaker event at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Oct. 30, 2011. Aumack was part of an ACC Hennessy team who inspected the Georgia Pines Dining Facility and Flight Kitchen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth/Released)

The icebreaker

U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Ruse, 23rd Mission Support Group commander, far left, gives a general overview of the dining facility and all the services it provides to an Air Combat Command Hennessy inspection team during an ice breaker event at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Oct. 30, 2011. The 23rd Force Support Squadron services flight held the ice breaker to welcome the team and introduce all the members involved with the Georgia Pines Dining Facility and Flight Kitchen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth/Released)

Inspection time

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Joe Romeo, Air Combat Command services functional manager, inspects Senior Airman Renae Gore, 23rd Force Support Squadron stock room manager, at the Georgia Pines Dining Facility, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Nov. 1, 2011. The ACC inspection team asked questions and inspected on categories consisting of job procedures, budgeting, food quality and service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

Moody Dining facility competes for John L. Hennessy award

Published Nov. 3, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Earning the title of best dining facility in Air Combat Command and maybe even the Air Force is a big statement.

A base can make this claim only by taking home one of the biggest prizes in Air Force Food Services, the 2011 John L. Hennessy award, a prize which highlights the best of the best.

The 23rd Force Support Squadron, Georgia Pines Dining Facility is one of two finalists in the competition for ACC's best multiple facility dining facility.

"This award promotes a healthy competition between the dining facilities which benefits the patrons of these facilities because they get the best service possible," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Joe Romeo, ACC services functional manager and member of the inspection team. "This inspection has been going for 60 years and has only improved our capabilities throughout our services teams.

"Based on what we think of the overall facility, one team from the single and multiple facility categories will advance to the next round," said Romeo "This means they will take on all the major commands at the Air Force level."

The ACC inspection team, which is made up of two services members, spent Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 inspecting the facilities, the service and food provided to the base.

The first day was spent inspecting the Turn N' Burn Flight Line Dining Facility, which puts Moody in the multiple facility category.

The second day was focused on the Georgia Pines Dining Facility, where they interviewed members of the staff, inspected the food and how the facility was maintained.

"We have a list of what we look for and what questions need to be asked," said Romeo. "We don't like to come in and make everyone nervous and uptight. We try and make everything as comfortable as possible when we go through this list."

The services personnel are confident in how they performed during the inspection and are ready to try it again if they make it to the next level.

"I think our people did an amazing job and performed to the superior level we hold them to," said Master Sgt. Shiela Leick, 23rd FSS section chief of food operations. "I feel that our people are ready and fully capable to take on the next level."

The dining facility will be notified at the end of this year with the results of the inspection and if they have moved on to compete at the Air Force level.