Fort Cavazos, previously known as Fort Hood, has been short on chefs for months, making it difficult to feed its junior enlisted personnel. According to reports, just two of the base’s ten main eating facilities have been open this summer and were only available sporadically. Soldiers who rely on the dining facilities have had to deal with unclear and contradicting opening times as base administrators seek to shuffle workers around to man the food service buildings. Many chefs are either deployed or gone for field training.
Fort Knox, Kentucky, is hosting a cadet exercise, and as a result, several Army chefs have been sent to the National Training Center, further taxing the resources of Fort Cavazos.
Some troops have had to drive across vast military compounds during the workday to find a meal. There have not been enough shuttle service choices for the many junior enlisted personnel who do not have automobiles to get them to the facilities.
In the last week, two of the installation’s dining halls have reopened, which may be a welcome change for the troops dealing with overcrowding and other logistical difficulties. As of late, the Army has been the most impacted by the military’s most significant recruitment problem in over 50 years. The Army is still anticipated to fall well short of its targets once again by the end of the fiscal year on September 30th, 2023.
Many factors contributed to the summertime difficulties at Fort Cavazos, including the rotation of the Combat Training Center, overseas combat deployments, and building upgrades.
The Army has posted fliers and posters in all the unit locations, barracks, and mess halls to inform the troops about the adjustments made for their health and safety.
As a temporary fix, the Army has floated the idea of issuing meal cards that could be used at some on-post establishments like Qdoba or Panera.
An Army spokesperson said they take the health and welfare of their soldiers very seriously.
