Press Release
☷Services Specialist Course at Fort Lee trains Airmenfor diversified career field
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Apr 29,2022
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Airman Andres Blanco - Pino demonstrates the use of an exercise ball April 21 at Fort Lee’s McLaughlin Hall . Blanco - Pino is a student enrolled in the Air Forces Services Specialist Course , which includes blocks of instruction focused on food service , fitness and readiness . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) Air Force services specialist students work on basic food preparation during an April 27 training session in Fort Lee’s McLaughlin Hall . The Services Specialist Course also includes blocks of instruction on fitness and readiness . It graduates roughly 1 , 300 students yearly . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) Air Force Tech Sgt . Liana J . Mighty observes Airman Alexander Cruz as he cuts peppers April 21 at Fort Lee’s McLaughlin Hall . Cruz was one of a handful of students practicing basic food techniques during an Air Force Services Specialist Course class . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) Airman Makayla Johnson cuts the marshmallow cakes she baked earlier in the day April 27 during the basic food block of the Air Force’s Services Specialist Course . The course operates under the Quartermaster School’s Joint Culinary Center of Excellence . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) Airman Chesney Lauer and Airman Andres Blanco - Pino demonstrate running on a treadmill during an April 21 Services Specialist Course class at Fort Lee , Va . Throughout the course of instruction , students learn various aspects of fitness as well as food service and deployment practices . The Airmen are assigned to the 345th Training Squadron , 37th Training Wing . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) Airman Chesney Lauer performs dumbbell presses April 21 during an Air Force Services Specialist Course training session at Fort Lee’s McLaughlin Hall . During the course , students not only learn how develop fitness programs and supporting material , but also food service and readiness practices . ( U . S . Army photo by T . Anthony Bell ) FORT LEE , Va . – “Culinary” is in the title of meal preparers for the Army , Navy and Coast Guard . The Marine Corps , leaning more toward tradition , dubs the same job as “food service specialist . ” Then comes the Air Force with a broader and less telling name for those tasked with feeding troops: “services specialist . ” One might be inclined to think the handle is the service branch’s attempt to distinguish itself from others . However , that’s not the case , according to Master Sgt . Monica Snow , Services Academy flight chief with the Quartermaster School’s Joint Culinary Center of Excellence . Rather , the name is more of an accurate accounting for all the duties services specialists must perform – to include satisfying the appetites of the rank - and - file . “I believe we are the heart of the Air Force , ” said Snow , after describing all the job encompasses . “We’re the pillars of the operation . We’re not out there working on the planes or flight lines , but we are a critical element of ground support , and I think that is important too . ” Services not only consists of food service – arguably the most important element – but also fitness and readiness , said Staff Sgt . Thomas Monte , services instructor . Furthermore , each component comprises several job titles or subcategories of work . For instance , readiness includes mortuary affairs , lodging and entertainment . Airmen working in the fitness arena can be subject to organizing intramural sports programs; teaching injury prevention; administering fitness tests; or operating fitness centers . Considering all that has to be covered , the course is relatively short – a little over five weeks . It graduates 1 , 300 Airmen yearly , said Monte . Airman Andres Blanco - Pino will add his name to the list of graduates in three weeks . The Air National Guardsman , who recently underwent instruction in the food preparation block , did not choose to become a services specialist because he is a foodie . He was more attracted to the fitness aspect . However , spending time with his fellow students learning to prepare meals changed that . “When I first started , I said ‘I’m enjoying this , ’” he said of his kitchen initiation . “Before this , I was always scared of cooking . I didn’t know how to do it . My parents always tried to teach me … but I was kind of lazy . Right now , I’m actually doing it and it feels good . ” The dining facility block of instruction is the largest , said Monte , covering facility operation , basic and advanced preparation , and serving . Unlike Blanco - Pino , Airman Chesney Lauer did not heavily lean toward a specific interest when she chose the services military occupational specialty . The self - described people - person , however , said the fact the MOS is centered on supporting others is sufficient for her . “I like serving people and helping out , and you get to do that , ” said the 19 - year - old Pennsylvanian . Lauer also said the various lines of work in the career field do not bother her . “There’s definitely a lot of movement in services , ” said the Air National Guardsman . “You won’t get bored . They’re going to move you around a lot . Personally , I want to work in physical fitness , but if I get bored , I going to be able to move around . ” The work Air Force services specialists perform is akin to the morale , welfare and recreation function present in each branch of the military . Fitness , hospitality and lodging , and food service are critical to building and maintaining morale . This is at the heart of the career field , said Monte . “It’s a lot of hard work , and in a sense , there are no days off , ” he said . “We’re working on holidays to feed airmen in the dorms , so it’s not a Monday thru Friday type of job , but the main thing is how much people rely on us . ” Conversely , the job can sometimes be thankless , he added . “Sometimes we’re the butt of jokes from the different career fields , and that’s OK , ” said Monte . “At the end of the day , we’re the ones feeding them; we’re the ones on deployments asking , ‘Hey , you want your chocolate chip cookies ’ You want entertainment You want a Latin dance night or bingo That’s us . ” Those graduating from the Services Specialist Course earn nine credit hours toward an associated degree in the Community College of the Air Force . The Services Specialist Course is one of several Air Force courses to call Fort Lee home . The Air Transportation , Traffic Management and Hazardous Materiel Inspector and Preparer courses also are taught here . Additionally , Air Force personnel undergo training in the Rigger Course . In total , roughly 6 , 000 Air Force personnel graduate yearly from the courses taught at Fort Lee . For more information about the Services Specialist Course , visit www . airforce . com/careers/detail/services .
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