156th Force Support Squadron strengthens three-year partnership supporting USAFA cadet training
156th Force Support Squadron strengthens three-year partnership supporting USAFA cadet training by Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Rosa
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Airmen assigned to the 156th Force Support Squadron, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, supported U.S. Air Force Academy training operations for the third consecutive year this past summer, providing food service support to thousands of cadets while strengthening expeditionary readiness and interagency partnerships.
Over the past three years, the 156th FSS has routinely sent teams to augment the Academy’s Cadet Food Service program, supporting operations at Mitchell Hall Cadet Dining Facility with the 10th FSS and the field feeding kitchen at Jacks Valley, where Basic Cadet Training transitions to a field environment.
This year, Airmen from the 104th Force Support Squadron, Massachusetts Air National Guard, joined the mission, expanding cooperation among active-duty and Air National Guard services professionals.
“Our ability to integrate with the 10th FSS, adapt to a demanding mission and work alongside members of the 104th FSS demonstrates the value of these partnerships,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Victoria Ramos, senior enlisted leader, 156th FSS. “We are developing more capable Airmen while contributing directly to the development of the next generation of Air and Space Force leaders.”
The annual mission coincides with one of the Academy’s busiest training periods, where approximately 1,500 cadets remain on campus during the summer for developmental programs. All while basic cadets, cadre and leadership personnel require continuous feeding support during the field portion of Basic Cadet Training at Jacks Valley.
“Our continued support to the Air Force Academy gives our Airmen an exceptional opportunity to perform their mission in a demanding, real-world environment,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Rosa, sustainment services superintendent, 156th FSS.
For the 156th FSS, the mission provides an opportunity to exercise expeditionary feeding, logistics, sanitation, accountability and leadership skills in a high-tempo operational environment while supporting the development of future Air Force and Space Force leaders.
“At Jacks Valley, our Airmen are not simply completing a training requirement, they are operating a large-scale field feeding mission, working alongside active-duty and Air National Guard partners, and directly supporting Basic Cadet Training,” said Rosa.
Before basic cadets arrive at Jacks Valley, services personnel prepare the field feeding operation by cleaning and preparing the facility, inspecting and testing food service equipment, transporting subsistence from Mitchell Hall, organizing warehouse operations and ensuring the site is ready for full-scale feeding operations.
Once training transitions to Jacks Valley, Guard personnel support the preparation and service of three hot meals each day while conducting sanitation, food preparation, and equipment accountability. Airmen work in shifts to maintain continuous food service throughout the field training period.
Qualified Airmen also work alongside Academy personnel in warehouse operations, receiving, organizing and distributing subsistence and supplies needed to meet daily feeding requirements.
“The experience and confidence our Airmen bring back to Puerto Rico significantly strengthen our expeditionary readiness and our ability to execute the Sustainment Services mission whenever and wherever we are called.”
The Jacks Valley team helped plan and execute approximately 11,000 meals and prepare an additional 9,000 meals. At Mitchell Hall, Guardsmen supported the planning and execution of approximately 19,000 meals and helped prepare an additional 12,000 meals.
Collectively, the effort supported tens of thousands of meals for cadets participating in academic, military and leadership development programs.
Academy Cadet Food Service leadership credited the Guard team’s professionalism, dedication and work ethic with helping sustain operations during the demanding summer schedule.
While providing feedback, Academy Food Service leadership stated, “Thank you and your team for the amazing support they provided to the U.S. Air Force Academy and Mitchell Hall. The Cadet Food Service program would not have been nearly as successful as we were these past two weeks without your team.”
The partnership also connects the daily work of services Airmen to the Academy’s broader mission of developing future commissioned leaders for the Department of the Air Force.
“This partnership represents exactly what we want our Airmen to experience, mission accomplishment, professional development and teamwork across organizations,” said Ramos.
During a previous mission, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adalberto Gonzalez, Senior Airman Ramon Gomez and Airman 1st Class Taisha Resto-Sanchez received coins from the 10th Mission Support Group commander for their contributions. Other participating Airmen received coins from the 10th FSS director, and team members received certificates of appreciation from Cadet Food Service leadership.
The addition of the 104th FSS this year further expanded the mission’s training value, allowing services professionals from different Air National Guard organizations to exchange experience, procedures and best practices while accomplishing the same operational objective.
Repeated participation and support has also allowed 156th FSS Airmen to build institutional knowledge of the Jacks Valley operation, allowing returning Airmen to assist first-time participants and provide continuity during preparation and execution of the mission.
Upon the conclusion of field operations, Guard personnel help close the site by cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen, returning equipment and supplies to Mitchell Hall, and securing the facility.
The mission exposes participating Airmen to the complete field feeding operational cycle, from establishing the kitchen to sustained high-volume meal production, subsistence and warehouse operations, sanitation, equipment accountability and final site recovery.
As the 156th FSS completes its third consecutive year supporting the Academy, the partnership continues to provide meaningful readiness training while helping alleviate staffing demands during a critical period of cadet development.
For the Puerto Rico Air National Guard Airmen serving at Jacks Valley and Mitchell Hall, this mission strengthens the readiness of today’s force while supporting the development of the Air and Space Force leaders of tomorrow.
-30-
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
