Marines


News
Base Logo
Official U.S. Marine Corps Website
Crossroads of the Marine Corps
Photo Information

Marines from The Basic School eat a hot breakfast at the end of their final field exercise before graduation at Military Operations on Urban Terrain Town aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Jan. 10, 2014. The meal was served by Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee, Va., food service specialist students.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel Ellis

Hot chow raises morale at MOUT Town

10 Jan 2014 | Lance Cpl. Samuel Ellis Marine Corps Base Quantico

Their slow gait and dirt-encrusted uniforms spoke volumes about the exhaustion Marines of Echo Company were experiencing as they walked through the Military Operations on Urban Terrain Town on Jan. 10, 2014. Little did they expect to turn a corner and find a hot breakfast waiting.

Drops of freezing rain fell making the chilly winter morning in the makeshift training compound a dismal end to the final field exercise for The Basic School students. The only inviting sight was the radiating glowing light and breakfast scents wafting from the entrance of a single building.

“They [the students] have been out when it was minus 15 degrees and have been constantly moving and fighting,” said Maj. Rob Warfield, Echo Co. commanding officer. “To come into the last day [of training], they didn’t know the Warrior Breakfast was coming.”

The lieutenants headed into the lit building where they found more than three dozen food service specialist students from the Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee, Va., waiting to serve them a hot meal.

“This is the first time we’ve done this,” said Warfield. “The results are very satisfying.”

According to unit leaders, the breakfast served dual purposes. For the TBS students, the breakfast came as a welcome end to the final field exercise before graduation at the end of January. For the food service specialist students, the event gave them practical application for the things they’ve learned before their graduation from food service school, also at the end of January.

“I think it has been successful,” said Maj. James Stockwell, director of the Marine Corps Food Service Schools. “It gives our students a realistic opportunity in a controlled environment to practice what we expect them to do once they get to the fleet Marine force.”

The junior food service Marines seemed to understand and embrace the intent of the meal.

“Being able to give back is my favorite part of my job,” said Pfc. Jonathan JonesDavis, food service specialist student. “[I enjoy] being able to come out here and cook a meal for the officers.”

As cold, exhausted Marine officers sat filling their stomachs, the visiting Marines watched while smiles of satisfaction crept across their faces.

You can see the morale boost on the faces of the Marines as they walk through picking up their chow, said Stockwell.  “Some people underestimate the value of a hot meal.”

Correspondent: samuel.l.ellis@usmc.mil


Marine Corps Base Quantico