George Washington Honors Junior Sailors with Special Meal

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Select junior Sailors from USS George Washington (CVN 73) are treated to a five-course meal by food service division at the first Right Hand Sailor Luncheon April 23.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Ware, George Washington's food service officer, developed the idea for the luncheon. "This is a great opportunity to recognize junior Sailors for their work and pay homage to them," said Ware.

Each Sailor was accompanied by their department head and leading chief petty officer.

"I contacted all of the department heads and asked them to select a junior Sailor for the luncheon," said Ware. "I wanted a way to motivate and improve the morale of the crew, and nothing does that better than a good meal."

Culinary specialists served up homemade Stromboli, bacon-wrapped teriyaki chicken, cob salad, chicken and beef kabobs, and Cajun fried rice. Dessert was banana foster wrapped in crepes with an ice cream topping.

Junior and senior Sailors, from seaman recruit to command master chief to department head, mingled with one another during the informal luncheon.

"I was a little nervous at first, but [my department head] is a pretty cool guy," said Seaman Recruit Jonathan Almoradie.

Ware said that he hosted similar events at his previous command, and he was certain it could be done on a carrier, despite having 20 departments.

"This is the first time doing something like this here," said Ware. "The trick is using the available menu items, flipping them and getting my junior culinary specialists to cook for VIPs."

The recognized Sailors were also given a free pass to the base bowling alley donated by the ship's Morale Welfare Recreation (MWR), and given a front of the line pass to avoid the often long wait during meals.


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