Academy Meals - Family Style

Yesterday was the 250 year anniversary of the US Army.  

Happy Birthday!

Aside from a reputation as being an integral part of the finest peace-keeping forces in the world; like any of our armed services the army has mastered the art and science of logistics.  This story is but one solitary example of the orchestration of many multiple examples of a carefully choreographed daily routine.

Every day at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, a staff of over 200 people cooks and serves over 13,000 meals for the 4,400 Army cadets attending the school. The cadets eat in historic Washington Hall, named after George Washington. Of the three meals served each day, lunch is the most complex. Students only have 25 minutes to enter the mess hall, complete a series of traditions and customs, and then eat their meal before returning to class.

Traditions weave a rich tapestry into mealtimes at West Point. Freshmen cadets are entrusted with setting the tables, a seemingly mundane task that takes on a new significance when catering to hundreds of their peers. Upperclassmen use this opportunity to engage in a lighthearted quiz, testing the freshman's knowledge and fostering a sense of camaraderie within the academy.

This glimpse into the world of military meals reveals a system that caters to diverse needs. It encompasses the no-frills efficiency of boot camp feeding, where sustenance is prioritized, and the tradition-steeped environment of West Point, where meals become woven into the fabric of the academy experience. Large-scale logistics and culinary knowledge, seemingly disparate aspects, come together to contribute to the well-being and readiness of the nation's armed forces.

You can learn more about feeding 4,400 cadets here.