Dining facility, flight kitchen vie for Hennessey Award Published Aug. 21, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Rodney D. Ivey 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- For their ability to provide exceptional care for Airmen stationed here, Air Combat Command this month selected the 366th Services Squadron's dining facility and flight kitchen here to represent the command in the 2008 John L. Hennessy Award competition. This marks the third straight year the dining facility and flight kitchen earned honors at the command level, which recognizes their extraordinary capacity to provide exceptional care for the Airmen stationed in southwestern Idaho, according to Maj. James D. Beaty, 366th SVS commander. "The Hennessy Award is an annual program to recognize the best food service operation in the Air Force," Major Beaty said. The award reflects the dedication, pride and fellowship of the Air Force food service program, the major added. It helps improve the Air Force way of life and promotes quality customer service. "Our outstanding customer service that puts us head and shoulders above the competition," said Major Beaty. ACC selected Mountain Home ahead of seven other command bases for the honor to compete at Air Force level. The base faces off against installations from each major command, including the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The base competes in the multiple facility category, since Mountain Home has two food service facilities -- the Wagon Wheel Dining Facility and the Trailwinds Flight Kitchen. A team from the Air Force Services Agency, in San Antonio, Texas, evaluates the base's dining facilities in January for the Air Force-level competition. The inspection criteria covers everything from food production to energy conservation, said Major Beaty. The squadron made many improvements at both facilities to ensure a repeat of last year's victory, including a new food storage labeling system and a 10 percent decrease in waste production. "We prepared all year long," said Airman 1st Class April L. Severson, a food services apprentice at the Wagon Wheel. "We want to make sure we have the freshest product available for the customer." In addition to serving fresh food, the dining facility staff offers services not available at other bases. They serve holiday and birthday meals each month and they dish up specialty meals, including Mongolian barbecue and steak and shrimp cookouts. The food service team here stands out above the rest, and this opportunity reflects that, said Major Beaty. "It's tangible verification of the great job our services troops do every day for the wing," he added.