“An army marches on its stomach.” Inconclusively and ironically attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.
As outlined in Blog #15, our training facilities and amenities have relatively little consistency. The availability, proximity, and type of lodging are combined with budgetary limitations and enrollment quantity to be the driving force behind the accommodations offered to us at a given venue. But before the bean counters worry about the availability of classrooms, parking lots, and lavatories, there is one universal factor which must be considered: food.
We know from documentaries about aircraft carriers and the National Football League that feeding large specialized crowds concentrated in a single location can be a logistical challenge. Providing nourishment for a small group, especially in a rural area, can be just as difficult since there isn’t justification for building a commercial kitchen and hiring a culinary staff. The subject of this blog will be the former, which is applicable to some of our academy locations that are large enough to necessitate an onsite cafeteria.
Thus, the million-dollar question: “How’s the food?” First of all, our food is generally free and unlimited. Second, I’m not the one spending the time and effort preparing it. Therefore I find it hard to give negative reviews. For many years I cooked for myself every single day. I’ll gladly let somebody else do it for a while at no expense of my own.
We are offered three meals per day, buffet style, in a dining hall reminiscent of a corporate cafeteria. It’s run by a government-contracted food preparation service that cycles through a tolerably long list of entrees, sides, and desserts. No mystery meat “hot dish” or “slop” here. A full salad bar, healthy and way too many not-so-healthy options, a sandwich station, a soda fountain, and more. Go back for seconds on a heavy workout day or when the person sitting nearby grabbed something that smells irresistibly appetizing. Indulge in a sweet treat after passing an exam or just because it’s Friday. We can have snacks throughout the day and keep whatever we want in our dorms so long as it doesn’t cause a racoon problem or burn the building down.
What surprised me the most was the large number of my coworkers who apparently used to eat at 5-star restaurants every day and were expert food critics prior to moving here. I came to this conclusion based on the sheer volume of complaining they do about our free warm food and the people who prepare and serve it to us with such positivity every night, weekend, and holiday. It gives credence to the notion that those who are truly unhappy will find something to grumble about even in the best of times, because that is the only attitude they have ever known. Also, if you ever want to hear people criticize something, give it to them for free while they are being paid a sizeable wage to render their opinion on it.
To be continued…
Training is coming along slowly but surely. My appreciation to those of you who have asked. Stick around a little while longer and the blog will get a lot more fun once we get pushed out of the nest and allowed to fly. Keep an eye out for some upcoming posts about past travel and life experience to fill in the gaps. You can also check out my Goodreads page if you want to peruse my non-fiction book reviews to pass the time or help you fall asleep.
The Dark Passport 