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Military Food Service Specialists

Military Career

General Information

Description

Food service specialists function in every aspect of food preparation, including administration, procurement, storage, and distribution. They plan menus, purchase supplies, cook food, operate food service equipment, and provide customer service.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Food service specialists normally work in clean, sanitary kitchens and dining facilities. They may sometimes work in refrigerated meat lockers. Sometimes they work outdoors in tents while preparing and serving food under field conditions.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Hospitality & Tourism

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Food Service Specialists in the Military

6,126

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$53,931

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 44%
  • Less than high school 18%
  • Post-secondary certificate 17%
  • Some college 11%
  • Associate's degree 4%
  • Post-doctoral training 2%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for food service specialists consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in food preparation. Training content may include: Standard and dietetic menu planningFood preparation and cookingBasic nutrition Storage of meats, poultry, and other perishable itemsDining service operationsFood and supply ordering

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for food service specialists consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in food preparation. Training content may include:

  • Standard and dietetic menu planning
  • Food preparation and cooking
  • Basic nutrition
  • Storage of meats, poultry, and other perishable items
  • Dining service operations
  • Food and supply ordering

Knowledge

  • Food Production
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Production and Processing
  • Administration and Management

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.