They're blaming it on NTC rotations. Problem is, civilian cooks from Fort f'n HOOD, don't travel to NTC. Irwin does have civilian cooks, but they can't provide for every damn unit that goes to NTC. Every brigade and above, some battalions, has cooks on the MTOE. They're the ones who travel to NTC with the troops during rotation since they have to be just as deployable as any other member of that unit. This is a major cluster**** on the Army's part. They brought civilians on to ease some of the work of the green suiters, especially when there are split deployments, or other meal card holders left behind due to other circumstances. The mess hall was also ran usually by an E-6(P) to E-8, depending on the location. The civilians worked for them.
My opinion? The army, as it has been doing for quite some time lately, dropped the f'n ball.
.....but hey, they got that name changed and that was Priority #1.
