157 FSS Sustainment Services Flight garners best in ANG

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Curtis J. Lenz
  • 157th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE --  The 157th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight here is the 2016 recipient of the Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth W. Disney Food Service Excellence Award, Air National Guard officials announced earlier this week.

The winning unit will receive their award during the 2016 National Restaurant Association Military Foodservice Award Ceremony in Chicago.

The Kenneth W. Disney trophy has been awarded annually since the awards program inception in 2000. The unit placed in the top three last year, this is the first time the unit has captured this distinction.

"It was a great opportunity for us and it allowed our Airmen to be recognized at the national level," said Master Sgt. Bradley Bogue, 157 FSS Sustainment Services Flight superintendent. "Hopefully this experience will continue to motivate them through their ANG career."

The purpose of the award is to improve food service throughout the Air Force and Air National Guard, increase morale of food service personnel, encourage competition and recognize excellence. Disney served as the services superintendent in the 134th Air Refueling Group, Tennessee Air National Guard, McGhee Tyson, ANGB, Tenn.

Tech. Sgt. Brian Roberge, 157th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of readiness, and unit deployment manager, recognized the hard work and dedication of the entire team.

"Generally services teams are much larger than we have at Pease; the fact we won with a smaller team is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of the flight," he said, who also highlighted the approximately 12 civilians who are an integral part of the winning team.

The winning unit competed with the 123rd Sustainment Services Flight, Louisville, Kentucky, and the 132nd Sustainment Services Flight, Des Moines, Iowa.

During the April unit training assembly, ANG officials evaluated members of the flight on kitchen operations, serving and dining, training personnel and readiness, sanitation and repair maintenance and management.

"It's just not an award about the food and presentation, it's also about the training, documentation and readiness," Roberge said. "It encompasses all areas of services."

Senior Airman Caleb Cejka, 157 FSS services journeyman garnered the Hennessy Travelers Association Award of Excellence Winner. He too will receive his award during the NRA program in Chicago.

Cejka, who joined the military in 2012, will also represent the ANG by attending the Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence at the Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena, California, later this year.

"Being a cook is a tough job, but the people I work with are amazing, top notch individuals," said Cejka. "I look up to all my NCOs, they're all role models and all my Airmen I work with are amazing."

Other members of the flight recognized include Airman 1st Class Melissa E. Opalka, Senior Airmen Ryan A. Ducharme and Nikkianne M. Healey. Each received outstanding contributors' distinction.

Roberge stressed that this award is another example of how great the men and women are throughout the 157th Air Refueling Wing.

"We hope this award demonstrates how hard we work to provide them the best FSS support in the Air National Guard," he said.

Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Reagan, 157 FSS superintendent, was quick to laude the efforts of Master Sgt. Bradley Bogue, who spearheaded and mentored the team to attain this award. 

"It shows the base and all the other Air National Guard units that the quality of the food, the team work and camaraderie they have here is second to none," Reagan said. "They are best in class and that's what we were striving for all the time."