More than a million meals are prepared every day in Army kitchens. As an important member of the food service team, the Food Service Specialist prepares all types of food according to standard and dietetic recipes, as well as ordering and inspecting food supplies and preparing meats for cooking.

The Food Service Specialist is primarily responsible for the preparation and service of food in field or garrison food service operations. Some of your duties as a Food Service Specialist may include:

• Bakes, fries, braises, boils, simmers, steams and saute's as prescribed by Army recipes
• Prepare serving lines, garnish food items, and apply food protection and sanitation measures in field and garrison environments
• Receive and store subsistence items
• Perform general housekeeping duties
• Operate, maintain, and clean field kitchen equipment
• Erect, strike, and store field kitchens
• Perform preventive maintenance on garrison and field kitchen equipment
• Create Class I requirements using the Army Food Service Management Information System
• Ensure proper and complete Class I Operational Rations are assembled for distribution from the Subsistence Platoon to supported Field Feeding Teams

Job training for a Food Service Operations Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and nine weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in food preparation. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• 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

Helpful attributes include:

• An interest in home economics, health, mathematics, accounting and chemistry
• An interest in cooking
• An interest in working with your hands

Advanced level Food Service Operations Specialist provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Food Service Operations Specialists, you may be involved in:

• Direct safety, security and fire prevention procedures
• Ensure proper procedure and food temperature guidelines are adhered to during food preparation
• Perform shift supervision and inspection functions
• Provide technical guidance to subordinate Soldiers in garrison and field kitchen operations

The skills you learn as a Food Service Specialist will help prepare you for a future with civilian cafes, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, hospitals, manufacturing plants, schools and other organizations that have their own dining facilities. Depending on which specialty you pursue, you'll be able to pursue a career as a cook, chef, meat cutter, butcher or baker.

• Nutrition Care Specialist (68M)
• Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist (68R)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.