CS "A" School Students Get Training from CS "A" School Graduates Aboard USS Wasp

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Culinary Specialist (CS) "A" School students of Class 90, from the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence, located in Fort Lee, Va., enjoyed a "Salt Water" trip to USS Wasp (LHD 1) Feb. 13 to gain insight into their roles upon graduation.

Salt Water trips are conducted for each class on a regular basis. However, these students were in for a surprise. The students were shown the ropes by Wasp crew members who were recent CS "A" School graduates.

Students said seeing their former fellow students hard at work gave them added confidence in their future role aboard ships.

"That was effective training," said CS "A" School student, Culinary Specialist Seaman Recruit Ashley Huston. "It gave me a taste of life as a CS on board a ship, which makes me feel less intimidated about going to the fleet."

The class was able to experience a full work day within the ship's Food Service Division, from assisting with the preparation of meals and cleaning stations, to witnessing daily breakouts of food and supplies.

Among the class of newly minted Navy recruits were six petty officers who are going through the school to change from their previous Navy rating. While these students had some knowledge of what the CS's do, the trip gave them even more insight into the rating.

"This visit gave me a better understanding of the layout, and different jobs and responsibilities that a culinary specialist has on board the ship," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Rock, a former aviation machinist's mate. "It has changed my whole opinion on what CS's do in the fleet and how much responsibility is given not only to the senior CS's but the junior ones as well."

The Navy's more than 7,000 culinary specialists deployed around the globe feed an average of more than 92 million wholesome and nutritious meals per year, ensuring the Navy's fighting forces operate at peak performance and are ready to respond to threats worldwide. Navy commanding officers agree that nothing impacts Sailors on a day-to-day basis more than the food CS's prepare for them. They believe these top quality meals contribute directly to Sailor quality of life and morale.

Today's CS's have greater culinary instruction than ever before. With even more advanced training on the way, Sailors both afloat and ashore, can look forward to even healthier and better tasting meals in the near future.

For more news from Center for Service Support, visit www.navy.mil/local/css/.