Air Force flight attendants hold first culinary arts competition at Rodeo 2011

News > Air Force flight attendants hold first culinary arts competition at Rodeo 2011

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Staff Sgt. Amy Gillilan (left) and Tech. Sgt. Dani Sloan (center left) check the temperature on their tri-tip July 25, 2011, during the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Air Force flight attendant culinary competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Five, two-person teams from around the Air Force competed in the event. . The only Total Force team, Sloan, a reservist, and Gillilan are from the 73rd and 54th Airlfit Squadrons, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., respectively. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
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Air Force flight attendants hold first culinary arts competition at Rodeo 2011

Posted 7/27/2011 Updated 7/26/2011

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by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs

7/27/2011 - Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (AFNS) -- For the first time in the history of the Air Mobility Rodeo, Air Force flight attendants competed against each other in a culinary arts competition here July 25 through 27.

Although the primary role of flight attendants is to facilitate the safe evacuation of passengers in case of an emergency on board the aircraft, the Airmen also are responsible for providing meals. The competition gave them the chance to show off their skills here as part of Rodeo 2011.

Five teams from around the Air Force cooked a beef lunch or dinner with a dessert for the panel of judges, who rated the meals based on taste, creativity and presentation. In addition, Chief Master Sgt. Seina Enwright and Staff Sgt. Cat Wilkerson, both flight attendants, observed the cooks to ensure all food items were prepared safely.

"As career enlisted aviators, we have a role in the mobility mission, so it only made sense to have our folks compete at Rodeo," said Enwright, who is also the functional manager for flight attendants. "Having this opportunity also gives our Airmen the chance to learn from each other. There are a few training courses available for flight attendants, but none of them teach how to cook on board an airplane, so most of what we do is on-the-job training or collaborating and learning from one another."

The competitors had $400 to shop for all their ingredients the day before they cooked, rodeo officials said. They were allowed to bring some specialty equipment, but, for the most part, had to use what was available to them. When it was their turn, each two-person team had three hours to prepare and serve a meal to the judges and several members of the fire department, who donated use of their kitchen for the event.

"We were inspired by Rodeo and wanted our dish to reflect that, so we grilled a lot," said Tech. Sgt. Dani Sloan, who is a reservist and member of the only total force team in the event. "But we were also inspired by our backgrounds. I'm from Northern California, so we went with tri-tip, a very West Coast cut of beef; (Staff Sgt. Amy Gillilan is) from Georgia, so we had a Georgia peach for dessert."

"We put a lot of thought into what we were making," said Gillilan, an active duty Airman and Sloan's teammate. "We were way outside our comfort zone cooking here, so our hope is that all the thought and effort we put into the planning and execution will pay off."

Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 is a biennial international competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews from around the world.

The winners of each competition will be announced during the closing ceremonies July 29.

For more information on the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, click here.

Comments

8/2/2011 2:25:35 PM ET
Ok I think we all can agree that there is alot of wasteful spending in the Air Force and we all do really hard and important jobs. Ok whatever. But the moral of this story is that when they announced all the winners at this year's Rodeo there wasn't one person that didn't snicker when they announced the name of the flight attendant with the best cooking skills. Maybe if they had nun-chuck skills bow hunting skills or computer hacking skills it would be different. Because girls only want boyfriends who have great skills

DJY- Real Job, Flightline

8/2/2011 11:28:08 AM ET
You don't know the ins and outs of a job untill you do it. Don't put down someone else's job if you have never been in there shoes. We all have an important job that supports the AF mission. Flight Attendants might not have a difficult job in your eyes but it is still mission essiental career field. Don't put them down for something they have worked so hard to get.

The One, RODEO 2011

8/1/2011 8:51:58 AM ET
Continued from post below... The rodeo still encompasses all the other tacticle-type competitions you may remember or have heard about except now it includes two more How good are you at getting people out of an airplane while it is filled with smoke and rapidly filling with water and how little money can you spend while still providing excellent food service. Though they didn't stress it enough in the above article the food portion of the competition is to provide the best possible service while spending the very least of their allotted money. This is a skill that should be honed and I think competition is a great way to raise the bar in these units AF wide. ...But the corn comment was actually pretty hilarious.

Awesomesauce, AD USAF

7/31/2011 11:39:37 AM ET
First, it was Top In BLue... Now Flying chefs: cut both programs. Stop flying DVs around the world. Sure sounds like the AFs very own lobbying service. We can't pay off bills so we close dining facilities and kick out a bunch of majors... At what expense? It's no wonder that the USAF will receive larger cuts that our sisted services.

OscarBlackcat, Osan AB

7/29/2011 3:26:31 PM ET
I read the comments and found myself getting disgusted. Then I read the comment - This is why the Army laughs at us.- Really. You think the Army laughs at us for that? Besides the fact that all of the services have their own specialties that go beyond regular cooking, many of them compete to go to culinary schools. If I was a soldier reading this article and the comments, I'd laugh at the amount of ridiculous comments there are.

MSgt, RAFL

7/29/2011 2:31:17 PM ET
@ MSgt HTR- Tech school for flight attendants is no joke! Really, I happen to know a couple of flight attendants who would laugh at you for that statement. Just sayin'.

Eng_77, Here and there

7/29/2011 11:08:24 AM ET
In my 15 years of flying Grey Tails I've never seen a Loadmaster clean the galley comfort pallet let alone the lavatories. Crew duty day what's that Try crew duty week. We are lucky if the leg we work is 8 hours and we get to rest on the next leg which is another 8 hours which also includes cooking cleaning dishes and scrubing the toilets. Never mind the fact that a single flight attendant uploadsdownloads 20 to 60 bags at evey stop while wearing a business suit. Let me ask you how safe your last trip to Tripoli Tehran or Pyongyang was Did you land like we did

Two Cents, USA

7/29/2011 9:52:54 AM ET
Continued from post below...and get him rescued.As a side note the competition also included all of the egress duties- but I suppose those don't cause as much uproar and didn't warrent coverage.Secondary side note They actually ARE allowed to roll up their sleeves while cooking hats are competition specific and and I honestly have no idea what those clowns are doing wearing the blue shirts... but I know they probably bought them themselves.Let's look at in an even different light... When we send someone to say China to speak with other leaders about world-influencing negotiations you want that person concentrating on the matters at hand- not their grumbling stomachs or lack of sleep they got on the ride across Earth. The secondary job of the AF Flight Attendant is to make the travel from place to place and timezone to timezone as transparent and smooth as possible. No one needs a plane flight on our leader's minds when peace talks are at hand.The rodeo st

Awesomesauce, AD USAF

7/29/2011 8:59:40 AM ET
To all of you warfighters out there whatever the AFSC thanks for what you do Gray jets are definitely the backbone of the force. Be that as it may you guys can keep your box lunches...I'm sticking with my blue and white and a Flight Attendant everytime. Good luck Evan and Tom

LH, MacDill AFB

7/29/2011 8:50:58 AM ET
How do they pick who gets to go to this Ok whoever can burn the beef in the yakisoba the least gets an all expense paid trip to McChord AFB to share your gift.

D. Slayer, Not in the kitchen

7/29/2011 8:29:06 AM ET
Alot of these pro-flight attendant comments are coming from Hawaii. Another reason why I don't feel for these people. I'd rathered be kissing ass there than working in 120 degree heat now.

D, Far from Hickam

7/29/2011 6:12:07 AM ET
All I think many people are getting the fiscal issues most of us have problems with and the actual careerfield confused. This is a real careerfield and it is important. If we should be flying VIPs around or not is another issue. The problem most of us have is why do we need to fly 3000 people of all careerfields across the country or world pay per diem take them away from their unit and the actual fight for these morale building competitions.Everybody's job is important. In our fiscally constrained environment we need to cut all these extra costs before we cut paybenefits personnel etc.

Paul, Afghanistan

7/29/2011 12:49:16 AM ET
I would argue we probably have some of the longest and most grueling days of any of the flying career fields.I would be willing to argue that. Deciding at the grocery store whether to cook chicken or beef versus 12-16 hour days loadingoffloading pallets with engines running and airdropping supplies while scanning for threats. Chopping up onions is grueling work though don't forget your eye pro.

Loadmaster, UK

7/28/2011 9:03:32 PM ET
This is why the Army laughs at us.

PACAF SMSgt, Hawaii

7/28/2011 8:56:56 PM ET
I think this is a great idea I can always bet on the best nutrition possible from the chow hall... I mean DFAC. Nothing better than some fried chicken fried fries fried pork fried burgers fried corn fried vegetables and when I'm feeling health conscious some baked chicken. That has been sitting in a bath of butter all day long. Or meatloaf ...That has been sitting in a bath of oil all day long.Yes sir the DFAC is THE BEST THE BEST.

John Cox, Dyess

7/28/2011 8:27:01 PM ET
First and foremost for the people with negative comments about the flight attendant career field should come do our job for a few days. The Flight attendant career field has been around since the late 1940s and early 1950s but then they were called flight traffic clerks. They were responsible for safety and security of passengers and cargo distributing meals ensuring proper loading and unloading of luggage and coordinating with custom authorities. Senior airmen at least 21 years of age can apply to apple to become a special air mission flight attendant. So you hate your job and going to the sand box retrain like everyone else in this career field did. While we all come from an array of career fields and some of us have deployed to the Sand box our new career field as Flight attendants is not a cake walk. We spend many hours away from home on the road with minimum ground time after having worked a 23 hour day straight. While the perks of our jobs is paid field trips as so

KK, Hawaii

7/28/2011 6:43:46 PM ET
The Flight Attendants in this article transport the leaders of this country in both peacetime and war. We fly into combat areas and are often in the same locations as the other combat aircraft. We are never given normal ingredients as mentioned by Lt Col A above. What we have on board is purchased and prepared solely by us from menu planning to shopping for ingredients. We often work 24 hour days on our feet the entire flight. I would argue we probably have some of the longest and most grueling days of any of the flying career fields. There is plenty of research online about the 1A6 career field if any of you above would like to research the job before commenting that it is a joke. Mahalo

LS, Hickam

7/28/2011 5:49:07 PM ET
There are other areas in the military where money is actually wasted. This isn't one of them. It's actually a morale booster as I see it and gives these guys and girls a way to showcase their talent to the Air Force. The school that they go through for training is no joke and only a select few get to become flight attendants. Oh, just to throw this in, I'll bet at least one of you has been to a Red Flag in Las Vegas at one time and stayed downtown on the Air Force's dime. I'll bet that when you were burning your per diem at the casino you didn't think twice about wasting the Air Force's money now did you? Maybe you should think twice before you talk about something you know nothing about. Just my two cents.

MSgt HTR, Tampa

7/28/2011 5:36:21 PM ET
Ah, Air Force leaders, I see what you did here. You put out this story so that there will be public outrage at the fact that we have this mission which is demanded from Senators and Congressmen. Right?

Maj, SWA

7/28/2011 5:08:41 PM ET
I agree with the fraud, waste, and abuse argument. I mean how dare our government spend the money to send these guys to cooking school when most offices still need more flat screen TVs. My office only has two so we definately could use the money instead.

PD, hickam

7/28/2011 4:57:35 PM ET
The flight attendants in this article transport the leaders of this country in both peacetime and war. We fly into combat areas and are often in the same locations as the other combat aircraft. We are never given normal ingredients as mentioned by Lt Col A below. What we have on board is purchased and prepared solely by us from menu planning to shopping for ingredients. We often work 24 hour days on our feet the entire flight. I would argue we probably have some of the longest and most grueling days of any of the flying career fields. There is plenty of research online about the 1A6 career field if any of you would like to research the job before commenting that it is a joke. Mahalo

LS, Hawaii

7/28/2011 4:33:25 PM ET
A few points to think aboutFA's do cook like this on the aircraft. If it needs to be grilled they grill it ahead of time and preseve it for the intended meal.Customers -Senate Congress their staff and such actually pay for each of their on-board meals. They split the cost amongst themselves and deliver the total to the flight attendant covering everything that was purchased for meals.Additionally the crew pays for their own meals as well. This is not free gourmet meals on the taxpayer's dime. If the crew objects to eating expensive steak that the DV party may be willing to pay for- they may opt to eat something more cost-efficient than them in order to keep crew bill down.First and foremost the job of AF Flight Attendants is to ensure the survivability of our nation's leaders in the event something terrible should happen. If a senator's plane should crash into the ocean it's good to know that we have trained folks on board to get him out keep him alive

Awesomesauce, AD USAF

7/28/2011 2:04:35 PM ET
Wish my job dealt with airplanes so I could have a paid for field trip. I only get to go to the sandbox every once in a while. Fraud Waste Abuse.

LeftOutIn, Minot

7/28/2011 1:10:18 PM ET
So all of the complaints on here are for what? That Flight attendants aren't actually a real job or that you weren't picked to go to rodeo? Or maybe simply because your view of the AF is of such a narrow scope? Get over it. Whats wrong with showcasing a job that is a little outside of the box and letting people know that there are other opportunities out there? Good Luck Evan and Tom.

J, MacDill

7/28/2011 12:17:44 PM ET
Ballcaps and BBQs.... I am sure all the actual warriors out in the fight do not appreciate this disgrace. What an embarrassment.

Mike, Germany

7/28/2011 12:15:36 PM ET
Lets not forget the money the AF is handing out for per diem for these people. How about making these things permissive TDY's and if you want to compete you pay your own way. No per diem, no travel money. Then we would see how many of these teams actually show up.

Scott, Deployed

7/28/2011 11:54:58 AM ET
People preparring food do wear hats indoors. Now as far as the sleeves rolled up, not sure on that one. Also I personally would not chose a picture of somebody opening a bottle of wine to accompany this story. I agree that flight stewards have an important job taking care of people on DV airlift. It is an Air Force mission and until we as a service are told differently we must fulfill that mission with professional airmen. With that said, DV airlift is such a small part of AMC that I believe holding a competition for it was not the best decision. We already took a beating over the silver bullet comfort pallet story... I'm sure this one will be next.

Jason, Offutt AFB

7/28/2011 11:37:46 AM ET
Obviously many readers did not even know about the elite taxpayer-funded AF Executive Airlift Training Center Advanced Culinary Class to hone extra luxury skills flight attendants already had in gourmet cooking. DVs, elected politicians, and their families must be fed first class during all those free fact-finding flights and rides home during congressional vacations. No cramped Space A travel or direct personal credit rating-linked convoluted government travel card program for these U.S. government employees. Air Andrews VIP airlines at their beck and call service.

Modern Warrior , Real World Trenchs

7/28/2011 9:36:11 AM ET
As an old Herky trash hauler and one-time participant in Airlift Rodeo back in the way back, I can say that this has to be the dumbest thing I think I've ever seen. Rodeo used to be a competition among tactical airlift crews on airdrop, airplane short field work, etc. Now we have flight attendents buying corn in the commissary. Gimme a break.

Mike, Florida

7/28/2011 9:33:39 AM ET
Unless you have the correct information description particulars of the job and the responsibilities of the Airman doing the job you should not speak so negatively. You are an embarrassment to yourself showing your lack of knowledge about the position and its importance to the Squadron.

Cindy, Florida

7/28/2011 8:28:21 AM ET
I think this is a great way to keep up morale or to get folks to be their personal and professional best throughout their career. Is Iron Chef AF the next sequel? Shouldn't we have some fun? Shouldn't we show off? All work and no play makes very weary people. Why do we have the group AF Tops in Blue? People love to perform, compete and participate in activities not only associated with their AFSC but their personal desires, and goals sometimes dictate to what we choose to be associated with. For those who commented before me, many different competitions are held all the time. Has anyone heard of the Global Strike Challenge, Maple Flag or Silver Flag, Joint Warrior Challenge? Are you implying that competitions and challenges can ONLY be for those who fix or fly airplanes?

Amanda, JBA

7/28/2011 7:54:13 AM ET
The only thing I ever got on a flight was a box meal from the flightline kitchen. Who are these flight attendants taking care of? Why not give them the normal ingredients they have on a flight and an airplane kitchen and have them compete as if it were a normal duty day? Isn't that what the Rodeo tests: who can do their job the best.

Lt Col A, MacDill AFB

7/28/2011 7:28:53 AM ET
YGBSM we just threw 157 Majors under the bus at the 15 yr point in their respective careers in an effort to streamline costs and and yet we are holding cooking contests - Please...

Chris, Ohio

7/27/2011 9:04:32 PM ET
Go Team Scott! Air Force Flight Attendants are the hardest working people in the Air Force...

SMSgt Shawn ODonnell, Scott AFB

7/27/2011 7:34:53 PM ET
Air Force flight attendants are charged with the safety and comfort of their passengers. Those passengers are foreign dignataries, the secretaries of Defense and State, the vice president, and many others. While the naysayers may not like it, DV travel is an Air Force mission. Besides the chief said they have a manning shortage; you can always cross-train ...

JG Buzanowski, Rodeo 2011 PA

7/27/2011 5:51:58 PM ET
MREs are cheaper.

Caveman, Bedrock

7/27/2011 5:25:03 PM ET
Wow...is this really a combat capability that needs to be showcased? There should be a separate command for all of the VIP warriors at Andrews. What will be the next new Rodeo competition, handing out towels at the gym?

John W., WA

7/27/2011 5:05:50 PM ET
My bad. You're not Services. But this story should be on the front of the website "Flight attendants perform Service's job." It's a sad, sad Air Force these days.

Same, Here

7/27/2011 5:02:35 PM ET
Congratulations to the Services team. Now that you've tasted - pun intended - the sweet sweet flavor of working in a flight suit, I expect to see cost-saving measures come across the president's website as well as the idea website with imbelished justifications as to why basketball handlers need to be in flight suits. We all know basketballs and hamburger patties marinating in warm pans of water are flame resistant and Services is the tip of the spear.

Same, Here

7/27/2011 5:01:20 PM ET
Wow! I'm speechless.

Steve, Midwest

7/27/2011 4:47:49 PM ET
Ok, we are able to do all these non-mission essential things but we are also in a financial problem too! I bet the people against wasteful government spending don't know about this, do they!

Maite, US

7/27/2011 2:18:15 PM ET
OK, I can understand the training value of having airlift units compete against each other as a means of sharpening their skills. And I understand that AF flight attendants have a role in the mobility mission. Got it. But rather than concentrating on their culinary skills of dubious importance in an emergency or combat scenario, why not test their skills in emergency scenarios aboard aircraft and evacuations on the ground? THAT is where their skills are important, NOT showing off what they can do with $400 and a kitchen.

DMPI, Al JBAB DC

7/27/2011 1:28:18 PM ET
Why all the commotion? Can't you see these are mission critical skill sets being honed here!

Maj F, Eglin

7/27/2011 1:21:49 PM ET
Are blue shirts still authorized and even if they were, is it Friday in this picture? Why are they wearing unauthorized baseball caps indoors? What's up with the blatant disregard for uniform policies during the Rodeo? Isn't that partly what this thing is supposed to be about, following proper policies and procedures? $400 dollars for each team for food for a competition? This whole competition has "please audit me" written all over it. Do any of these purchases, ie hats, shirts, food, meet the necessary expense rule?

SW, OK

7/27/2011 12:58:36 PM ET
Really?

RMA, SA

7/27/2011 12:01:16 PM ET
Is this money well spent? Are these types of competitions needed in today's high-ops tempo, high deployment environment? I just don't think so.

Chief W - Retired, Tennessee Valley

7/27/2011 11:36:57 AM ET
The USAF has flight attendants? I had no idea. Indeed AFSC 1A6X1 are flight attendants. Is this really the best use of our highly trained and skilled enlisted force? Seems like there are more mission essential AFSCs...

Capt S, NH

7/27/2011 10:35:16 AM ET
Wow! Looks like the budget crunch must be over if we can afford this type of event. And realistic too since I often see people grilling on planes.

Joe, Offutt

7/27/2011 10:05:47 AM ET
Try not to Q-3 for burning the toast

Drew P. Hansen, Peterson

7/27/2011 9:13:54 AM ET
You have got to be kidding me.

Chuck, Germany

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