George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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m The Ney Award cake was one dessert GW's cooks didn't have to prepare. Instead, the ship's boatswain's mates baked and iced the commemorative cake in honor of their shipmates' excellent work. successful bid for the Navy’s highest food service award. U A ny mention of the overall team effort would be incomplete without the Medical Department and the Engineers,” CDR John Drerup, GW’s Supply Officer, said. Lt. Kock also paid tribute to the men who made the machines run right and those who inspect the food. “The engineers keep our equipment up and running every day of the year,” Kock said. “We couldn’t feed the crew if they didn't. They just kept up there usual outstanding performance during the inspection. “The guys from medical inspect our food when ever and where ever we pul it. They make sure we serve quality food...the Ney inspectors noticed that.” MSC(SW) Charles Wharton, S-2 Division LCPO, credited the men in the galley with having a winning attitude long before the inspectors arrived. “All the guys had a strong desire to be the best,” he said. “They lived the role. Their attitudes were on display at each meal, so I’m sure the Ney inspectors picked up on it.” At one point during the inspection the evaluators were backed into a comer. Continued on next page

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‘They were watching us make the bread and dinner rolls in the bake shop and I had to ask them to get out of the way,” MS3 Calvin Rady. Bake Shop Supervisor, said. I wasn’t rude, but I didn’t have time to dodge those guys, so they had to move. “They watched my guys running back and forth and yelling at each other. I was thinking ‘great they're gonna think we’re disorganized.' but that was the way we had to work on that occasion.” Regardless of Rady’s fears that he and the entire food service team had done something wrong, the outcome couldn’t have been better. When the flour settled, the judges had been impressed...very impressed. No other carrier in the fleet could say they were the best in the food service business. A total team effort allowed George Washington to garner an unheard of accomplishment — winning the Ney on the very first try. In doing so, GW set a new standard for not only carriers already veterans in the business, but for carriers still to come. No longer will food service Sailors say “it’s impossible to win the Ney your first time.” The award was just confirmation of something we knew all along — we were the best in the Navy.” CW02 Keith said. ‘That's our job. Not just at the time of the inspection, but day in and day out. This was no show for the inspectors. My guys put out the best meals in the Navy consistently.” Keith is proud of his men and the quality of service they provide. “If that slipped, I wanted someone to come to my office and let me know. Underway 123