Culinary specialists test skills, prepare for large-scale exercise

CAMP ZAMA, Japan - Several culinary specialists participated in a two-day training exercise this week to hone their Soldier skills ahead of the U.S. Army's largest bilateral exercise in Japan.

Teams of Soldiers assigned to the 765th Transportation Terminal Battalion's 5th Transportation Company and Field Feeding Platoon conducted the training, which also provided some friendly competition.

"The main purpose is to get our Soldiers familiar with their equipment and get them ready for a deployment at any time," said 1st Lt. Teagan Fisher, the feeding platoon leader.

Fisher, along with her platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ger Lo, organized the events, which included an obstacle course, medical lanes and a culinary board here Monday, followed by a convoy movement drill at Sagami General Depot the next day.

Fisher said the exercise, as well as classroom training held last month, will help prime the Soldiers for Yama Sakura, a monthlong exercise slated for later this year.

"It's just better to have [our Soldiers] always prepared, especially having it occur right before we do Yama Sakura," she said. "So, we will know if our equipment will work, or if we need to iron out any issues."

Fisher said the unit was able to discover a few vehicles that were inoperable while inspecting them during the training, which will give Soldiers time to repair them before the major exercise kicks off.

Sgt. Jean-Paul Beya, assigned to the Field Feeding Platoon, said the recent training event was beneficial, particularly for the younger Soldiers.

Beya, who has deployed to the Middle East, said the events tested what Soldiers may experience in their roles downrange.

The convoy movement, for instance, had Soldiers drive light medium tactical vehicles while pulling mobile kitchen and water trailers.

"As service members we must train the way we fight," he said. "We're going to put all of our troops in a scenario so they can get comfortable with it."

Spc. Tristan Woodbury, also assigned to the feeding platoon, said he appreciated the opportunity to practice answering questions from board members, which could help him in future promotion boards or Soldier of the Month competitions.

Woodbury participated in a similar exercise the battalion held last year and said this type of training reassures him of his abilities.

"Confidence," he said of the main takeaway from the events. "It makes me feel more confident after I've done all this."

Next year, Fisher said they hope to add a cooking event and bring culinary members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to broaden the exercise.

She said culinary specialists, or 92Gs, play an important role in the U.S. Army. Without them, Soldiers on long missions, such as those carried out by 5th TC boat crews, would not receive hot meals and only boxes of meals ready-to-eat.

"They feed the Army," she said, "so they go wherever the Army goes."

Since she arrived in Japan this summer, Fisher said she has been impressed with the dedication the culinarians have shown. Whether missions take them out in the field or to the dining facility, she said the Soldiers boost morale by cooking day and night to ensure others are well-fed.

"From what I've seen, our 92Gs are some of the hardest working people out there," she said. "They do care, and they want to be here."

Related links:

U.S. Army Garrison Japan news

USAG Japan official website

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