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Scott Airmen provide crucial food support while deployed

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Farnsworth
  • PRT Paktya Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Il --  If there is one thing every Airman and Soldier training in Provincial Reconstruction Team Paktya needs to do daily it's eat; and during military training, eating becomes especially important.

That's where Force Support Airmen come in.

Three Airmen from Scott Air Force Base are responsible for ensuring more than 70 members of PRT Paktya are fed. When not completing tasks assigned from combat skills training, Tech. Sgt. Scott Okoniewski, Staff Sgt. Carlos Rodriguez and Senior Airman Leon Spence, work with staff from Camp Atterbury, Ind., to ensure no warrior goes hungry.
Force Support Airmen project head counts and order hot field chow and Meals-Ready-to-Eat when servicemembers are not able to make to the dining facility.

"It's obvious by the Soldiers' reaction that hot food is a huge morale booster," Sergeant Okoniewski said. "You can almost physically see morale rise when you arrive."

Sergeant Okoniewski is also responsible for ensuring all field food is delivered on time so training is not interrupted. Soldiers in the field appreciate the hot chow being delivered, said the 1-182nd Infantry Batallion, Bravo company 1st Sgt.

"It's always preferred to take advantage of the hot chow when it's available," U.S. Army Master Sgt. Daniel Riley said. "There are days when only an MRE is available to eat on the fly."
When not projecting food needs, working to meet the deadlines, or dishing up the hot chow in the field, Sergeant Okoniewski also takes part in the pre-deployment training. "So far the training provided has given us a clear understanding of what our mission as a PRT is," Sergeant Okoniewski said. "Knowing I can have a hand in helping the people of Afghanistan become more self-sufficient and embrace the Government of Afghanistan makes me feel important."

Throughout the three-month training, members of PRT Paktya are required to participate in training lanes where they put into practice the skills taught to them in the previous days.

"Conducting the mounted combat patrols, or being the gunner on the M-240B during the live night fire training has been the most interesting part of training," Sergeant Okoniewski said.
Once training is complete members of the incoming PRT Paktya will head to the Paktya providence of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.