I receive many emails from junior cooks and potential recruits asking what they need to do to become Chefs in the Military. Example:

“I am currently attending the California Culinary Academy. I am interested in being a chef for the Military. I want to serve my country in the best way I know how by serving them great food from all around the world. I am 18yrs old started the CCA when I was 17. I have been working in restaurants since I was 13yrs old. I got my first sous chef job when I was 17yrs old. I may be young but I have an old soul. Thank you for taking time to read my letter.”

I usually respond with the path I feel a Coastie should take to become a chef and give them the contact information for Chefs in all the other services.

Instead of responding to potential recruits/junior cooks this way, I was hoping to create a thread that explains the process, for each service, on how a young cook can work their way to becoming a chef through the military. When I receive these emails I will be able to send them a link to this forum where they can read your views on what options they have to reach their goals.

Please help us out by responding with your opinion on the correct path for a potential recruit to become a Military Chef in your service.

Thanks!

Recruiters:

Army: http://www.goarmy.com/contact/find_a_recruiter.jsp?hmref=cs
Navy: http://www.navy.com/findarecruiter/
Air Force: http://www.airforce.com/recruiterlocator.php
Marines: http://www.marines.com/page/usmc.jsp?flashRedirect=true
Coast Guard: http://www.gocoastguard.com/

How to become a Coast Guard Chef:

Warning: The first four years of service will be hard. You will need to keep a good attitude while working in an environment that will test your patience.

The first step is to inform the recruiter you would like to be a Food Service Specialist. Ask about any bonuses they are offering recruits who want to cook. If you have a culinary degree ask about the bonuses they are offering recruits with culinary degrees. This is the only time you will be able to grab this bonus. If you ask about it later it will be too late.

Once you are in the Coast Guard and have completed Food Service Specialist school, apply for the Coast Guard Culinary Team. For the first five years of service stay on boats until you get your Cuttermans pin (a pin worn once you have completed five years of sea duty). Wearing a Cuttermans pin proves you have paid your dues and no one will doubt your service. If you decide to go the Chef route, the Cuttermans pin will help you advance and give you the respect you deserve for your service to the Country. During this time start working on your Hospitality Management or Culinary Arts degree.

Next step is applying to cook for an Admiral. If you’ve done a good job as a cook in the Coast Guard you should be picked up fairly quickly. While cooking for Admirals stay on the Culinary Team, finish your Associates in Hospitality Management or culinary arts, become a certified Chef though ACF, work a wide variety of part time jobs in the civilian food service sector and promote yourself to E7 or above. Once you’ve completed all this you will be a chef and more IMHO.

Now to take the step to Executive Chef and make your self extremely marketable on the outside, I recommend you add the following to your to do list. Certify yourself as an Executive Chef through ACF, earn a Bachelors in Hospitality Management, and run the Culinary Team for a couple years as Captain or Team Manager.

Some great jobs in the Coast Guard for a Military Executive Chef: COTR of the Coast Guard Academy (multi million dollar colligate food service contract run by civilians), Chief of any large MWR club, Senior Enlisted Special Command Aide (Head of all Admirals Cooks), Head Chef for the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, Vice Commandant or Commandant, Officer in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security Executive Dining Facility, Chief Food Service Instructor at the Food Service Training Center, instructor at the Army's Advanced Culinary School, and Chief at one of the FSAT’s (Responsible for providing oversight and training of a large group of units). These jobs can provide the opportunity for a Military Executive Chef to enhance and display their Culinary and Hospitality Management skills, provide experience in all aspects of running a catering company/banquet hall, and expose the chef to the civilian upper managment side of non commercial food service.

name = Holly

comments = I was just wondering how I would go about becoming a chef for either the air force or the navy, if you could send me a little bit of information that would be great. Thanks

name = Jeffery

comments = Hi I want to be a cook but dont know what branch to go in our the requirements please if you have and info please contact me

thankyou

name = Richie Lee

comments = I like to cook, and want to become a military chef. How do I start?

name = John
comments = To whom it may concern,

I am a 24 year old adult. I am currently a Banquet tournant Chef at Moody Gardens Resort Hotel & Convention center. I have been here for three and a half years. At the end of the summer I will be a certified culinarian in the American Chef Federation and also have my certificate of Culinary Arts from Galveston College's Accredited Culinary Academy. I work directly under three world class Chefs. Two are from Switzerland and one is from Jamaica. I will have 56 credit hours after this summer. And I plan on finishing my Bachelors in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Mangement. The reason I am telling you all of this is because I need your help.

I am currently in the process of enlisting in the Navy because it is my life goal to cook in the White House. I scored a 92 on my ASVAB. I
will already be an E3 because of my college hours. My recruiter is a PO1 GM and doesn't have the knowledge about my rating to help me in my Navy future. I have no problem proving myself when I am in. But I want to be at least a Petty Officer when I enlist and I know because of my experience I am deserving of the rank. I just want to know how to go about explaining to my recruiter this. He doesn't understand my experience and how when I start I will start at the bottom. I don't mind doing that but it would be a great misuse of my skill set. I have no doubt in my mind that I could run a mess for an entire carrier already. Not to brag. I have plenty other options open to me but I want to serve God and serve my country. God has blessed me with wonderful cooking skills that I want to give back to my hard fighting country men. Food is the best! way to raise moral and I want to add on the great tradition of being a Navy Chef.

So if you or anyone with knowledge of Navy recruiting can get back to me on how I can enlist at a higher rank so I can do more with my Navy career; I would greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
John

name = SC Austin McManus

comments = Im a secondary culinarian. Im about to graduate from Wylie High School where im the Executive Sous Chef of the Culinary Program. I placed 4th at Best Teen Chef. Im joining the Marines as a foodservice specialist on June 16

name = Ethan

comments = What do you have to get on the asvab to be a cs for the navy

name = Jerome

comments = Hello,
I am very curious about food preparation in the military I am a Certified Chef In the N.C. area currently managing and supervising at an Assisted Living Facility. My wife and I also have a small Personal Chef and Catering business, I have been in the field of Culinary Arts for over 25 years and I am looking for a more productive area suited for my vast expertise. If you can advise or assist me in the direction that may lead me to a more exciting career I would truly appreciate it.

Thank You In Advance'

name = Catina

comments = I am a services member of the Air Force and I was interested in becoming a military chef. What are the proper procedures to do so?

name = Tim

comments = I am curious as to what opportunies and doors to success are offered throught the Military Chefs programs. Also I would like to look into more advanced schooling as well as a great career opportunity.

name = Emmanuel
comments = How i can get info about the U.S. ARMY RESERVE CULINARY PROGRAM ?

name = franky

comments = i want to be a millitary chef. what do i need to do?

name = FRED THE CHEF
comments = HELLO

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO COOK IN THE MILITARY AND WHO HAVE THE BEST BENEFITS AND PAY?

name = Rosalind

comments = I am a culinary student and was wondering if you could send me information as to how to become a chef for the military. Thank You.