Active-Duty Military Foodservice Professionals Fortify Their Knowledge Through Culinary Training, Career Counseling At The Culinary Institute Of America At Greystone

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Military servicemen and women from the Army, Air Force, Air National Guard, Navy, Marine Corps and Military Sealift Command operations worldwide engaged in state-of-the-art culinary education and training, mentoring and networking, during the 2015 Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence, Sept. 21-25. The annual event is hosted by the National Restaurant Association Military Foundation (NRAMF) at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Greystone, St. Helena, Calif.

The 36 students in attendance participated in programming on seasonal cooking, creative utilization of leftovers and knife skills. The week-long educational event is designed to hone attendees' culinary and foodservice management skills by offering interactive seminars, hands-on cooking activities, and mentoring and career-coaching sessions, led by top-flight CIA instructors and leading foodservice executives, suppliers and industry leaders. Highlights included spirited Unitized Group Ration (UGR) challenges and an innovative recipe contest sponsored by Rose Packing Company.

SrA Chelsea Lawson, US Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; A1C Jonathon Martinez, US Air Force, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Sgt Austin Nelson, US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz.; Alvin Nucum, Military Sealift Command, USS Frank Cable; and Specialist Alexandra Treul, US Army National Guard, 132^nd Brigade Support Battalion, Wis., won the recipe contest with a roast rack of pork stuffed with spicy spinach served with apple gastrique, and accompanied by orange-scented sweet potato puree and fresh, white asparagus salad.

"We are pleased to be involved in the military-focused programming of the NRAMF that supports culinary operations of our nation's armed forces with the goal of giving back to our military servicemen and women who to do so much for our nation," said Nick Ledanski, director of military sales at Rose Packing Company Inc.

"With more than 1.7 million new restaurant and foodservice jobs opening in the decade, the NRAMF's goal is to connect with military personnel and help them further develop the skills and passion for their work in support of the nation's armed services, and also prepare them to find rewarding careers in the restaurant sector following their service to the nation," said Rob Gifford, executive vice president, strategic operations and philanthropy, National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

Prior to the start of educational programming, students took part in a tour of Napa Valley and a brewery tour and dinner, hosted by long-time NRAMF sponsor, Anheuser-Busch.

"For more than 150 years, Anheuser-Busch, its employees, its Foundation and its family of wholesalers have supported America's armed forces through numerous programs and philanthropic efforts," said Josh Halpern, Vice President - National Retail Sales, On-Premise and Military at Anheuser-Busch. "More than 5,500 Anheuser-Busch employees have served in military campaigns over the years, so we're proud to support the NRAMF and connect with programs that help fortify the skills of servicemen and women in military foodservice operations."

According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), more than 250,000 military veterans are currently employed in the restaurant industry, and the number of employment opportunities is projected to increase by 25,000 in the next five years.

The following military personnel participated in the 2015 Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence:

• SrA Angel Agosto – US Air Force Reserves, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, TX
• TSgt Kimberly Aguilar – Air National Guard, 133^rd Force Support Squadron, MN
• AMN Joshua Allen – US Air Force, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL
• Spc Fernando Alvarado – US Army, 63rd Brigade Support Battalion, NV
• SSgt Reginald Brown – US Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
• Sgt Justin Clairmont – US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
• CSSN Michael Clark – US Navy, USS Oklahoma City
• SrA Isiah Davis – US Air Force, Kadena Air Base, Japan
• SrA Marc Eisenmann Jr. – US Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
• CS2 Bennett Evans – US Navy, USS Bonhomme Richard
• SrA Justin Fitzpatrick – Air National Guard, Gowen Field ANG Base, ID
• SPC Bianca Garcia – US Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
• CS2(SW) John Genova – US Navy, Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan
• Sgt LaShawn Graham – US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
• A1C Skiilar Hopson – US Air Force, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
• SSgt Grady Kent, Jr. – US Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton, CA
• A1C Taylor Kolu – Air National Guard, Minneapolis-St. Paul Joint Reserve Station, MN
• SrA Chelsea Lawson –US Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base, NM
• Sgt Dustin Lewis – US Marine Corps, White House, DC
• A1C Jonathan Martinez – US Air Force, Hurlburt Field, FL
• Sgt Austin Nelson – US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ
• Civilian Alvin Nucum – Military Sealift Command, USS Frank Cable
• Sgt Raul Pacheco – US Army, 18^th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Grafenwoehr, Germany
• GySgt Oneal Paguada – US Marine Corps, Camp Johnson, NC
• Sgt Jacob Parrett – US Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base, HI
• CS3 Levy Peterson – US Navy, USS Carl Vinson
• SrA Aramis Rodriguez – US Air Force, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
• SrA Joseph Ruiz – US Air Force, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
• CS3 Brian Smith – US Navy, Naval Air Station, WA
• Civilian Jary Smith – Military Sealift Command, USNS Richard E. Byrd
• CS3 Michael Swartz – US Navy, USS Oak Hill
• SrA Marco Tordera – US Air Force, Whiteman Air Force Base, MO
• Specialist Alexandra Treul – U S Army National Guard, 132^nd Brigade Support Battalion, WI
• CS2(SW) Juan Villarreal – US Navy, USS Makin-Island
• SSgt Michael Wadsworth – Air National Guard, Pease Air National Guard Base, NH
• SSgt Richard Zurowski – US Marine Corps, 4^th Combat Engineers Battalion, Headquarters and Support Company, MD

The NRA has a long history supporting the military dating back to 1956, working to build career opportunities for military personnel, veterans and their families. In 2012, the NRAMF was established to strengthen the hospitality industry's support to the Armed Forces and to honor the dedication, pride and fellowship of the military foodservice personnel. The CIA has its own military connections, making it the ideal venue for continuing education for military foodservice personnel. Founded by visionaries Frances Roth and Katherine Angell in 1946, the school was designed to help returning World War II veterans learn the necessary practical skills to enter the post-war workforce.

About the National Restaurant Association Military Foundation:
Based on its commitment to our armed forces, the NRA established the NRAMF in 2012 to provide training and support to military hospitality programs; promote restaurant/hospitality career opportunities for veterans and their spouses; and provide small-business ownership opportunities for veterans. For more information on the National Restaurant Association Military Foundation, visit www.restaurant.org or click here.

To view photos of the event, visit http://on.fb.me/1LKf51S.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150928/271393
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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Military Foundation