Mission Support Group Airmen participate in field feeding training

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lisa Kostellic
  • 403rd Mission Support Group
KEESLER AFB, Miss. --  Members of the 403rd Services sustainment flight conducted Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen, or SPEK, training here May 2-3 as part of the 403rd Mission Support Group's Functional Area Training Event.

The SPEK is a portable dining facility transported on one pallet with all the supplies needed to serve a hot meal in the field. The only extra items required are a place to set up the SPEK, a water source, and a power source.

The SPEK team lead, Master Sgt. Terry Conner, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of field feeding contingency operations, said a SPEK can be ready to feed up to 500 personnel in just under six hours with a team of six trained personnel--approximately four hours for set up and two hours for food preparation.

"This particular field feeding set up is a team effort. Without everyone doing their part, it's almost impossible to set it up by yourself. I had a good team today, and it was great to be able to come together and accomplish this contingency training requirement," said Sergeant Conner.

The SPEK uses a tray-based heat and serve (T-rat) cooking method, which involves immersing the pre-cooked food in hot water. The food kits are called Unit Ground Rations, which are boxes that include everything needed for a full meal such as food, drink mix, trays, utensils, and condiments. Each UGR can feed 50 people.

"If you were to deploy to a bare base, this is what you would set up. In a real-world scenario, the first 15 to 30 days would be Meals Ready-to-Eat. The second stage would be the UGR, and the final stage of field feeding would be the A-rations," said Senior Master Sgt. Lisa M. Baldelli, 403rd Services sustainment flight non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

Thirty-two 403rd Wing members dined at the SPEK on May 3. Although the 403rd Services sustainment flight was prepared to feed 150 personnel, they decided to save half the UGRs for another unit training event this fall.