Servicemembers compete in cook off

NAVAL BASE GUAM, Guam -- Fourteen teams competed in an annual grill off held by agencies in the quality of life community at the Defense Commissary Agency parking lot here July 18.

Teams representing servicemembers from the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Army National Guard and Air National Guard, as well as civilians from Morale, Welfare and Recreation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Naval Exchange participated to see who could prepare and barbeque the best chicken quarters, rib eye steak and pork ribs. Two other categories included best side dish as well best in show.

"The first grill off was very well received, and there was a call to repeat it," said Steve Evans, NEX Main Store manager. "What we are trying to do, especially with regionalization, is bring together the entire military community, on Guam, to take part in an activity that everyone can enjoy. We hope that the event provided ample opportunity for everyone to meet people from other branches of the military in a very casual and comfortable atmosphere."

Teams who participated in the event were provided with meat from the commissary to prepare and handouts including T-shirts and drinking glasses were given to participants.

"Last year a few people within the quality of life community started talking about coming together to hold events," said Mr. Evans. "The idea is that we can do events individually, but if we each bring our resources together and cooperate, we can make the events much better, so we formed the All-Star Team and gave it a try. The primary players have been the NEX, DeCA, Fleet and Family Readiness Program and MWR." 

Team Barksdale, a four-man team, competed in each of the categories and took second place for best pork ribs. The team is deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from Barksdale AFB, La., to support the Pacific Command commander's Continuous Bomber Presence in the Asia-Pacific region. 

"This was a great opportunity to have a good time and take a break from the mission to meet other servicemembers and see what the grilling competition is like," said Master Sgt. Jason J. Weaver, 96th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit first sergeant and Team Barksdale captain. 

The Spartans, an additional team from Andersen AFB, took third place for the best side dish category. The members are also deployed from Barksdale AFB supporting the 36th Operations Support Squadron. 

"The event was fun," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Navarre, 36th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician. "We had a good time to be able to spend with the guys outside of work." 

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Monique Genereux, a boatswains mate, and her team representing Station Apra Harbor placed second for best side dish in the competition. Petty Officer Genereux is a local from Ipan, Guam. 

Southern Comfort, a Navy team from the USS Frank Cable, placed third in the best pork ribs category. The team included hull technicians Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Edwards and Petty Officer 1st Class Santos Cordero. 

"We liked the idea of being able to get together and cookout," said Petty Officer Cordero.
The contestants were not the only joint participants. Judges for the competition were military and civilian leaders from the region including Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, USS Frank Cable, Andersen AFB, Station Apra Harbor, Guam National Guard, MWR and NEX Guam. 

"We truly were able to bring the Guam military community together," said Mr. Evans. "Guam is a great place to fire up a grill, grab a beverage and have some good food with good friends even if you just met. We hope that is what everyone was able to do, and we hope everyone had a good time." 

In one year, the Naval Base Guam quality of life agencies have held a grill off, a car show, a back to school fashion show, two adult fishing derbies, a children's fishing derby and a fitness event. 

The base is expected to have another back to school fashion show and a wine tasting event soon.