On the 30th day of every month, Ike's Supply department holds a menu review board. These meetings give food services division (S-2) and the ship's store the opportunity to hear the crew's concerns and suggestions.

The crew's voice was heard at yesterday's review, where S-2 took note of the attendees' feedback while clarifying challenges and restrictions often met when ordering food while deployed in different fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).

"The menu review board is normally a quarterly event, but we like to run them every month," said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Melissa Mohammed, leading chief petty officer of food services. "It gives us feedback to let us know what we're doing right, or things that we may think we're doing right and that the crew may not like. We received a lot of positive feedback. If it's something we can fix on the spot we address it immediately. My records keeper Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Jessica Eaton also took notes, which we file to implement as time goes on."

A representative from every department is asked to attend in an effort to hear from a wide variety of the ship's crew. At yesterday's meeting on the aft mess decks, representatives were treated to refreshments while they spoke with food services.

"It's also a great time to explain certain aspects of the menu the crew may not understand," Mohammed said. "Certain items may not be on the serving line simply because we can't get it. As we enter certain AORs, we may not always be able to get the things we had in Norfolk. For example, when we were in the 6th Fleet AOR, we were unable get simple things the crew liked such as bacon, bagels or pancakes."

Adding to the difficulties of procuring the crew's desired food, Mohammed said sometimes they receive only 85 percent of the supplies requested. Certain items are occasionally out of stock and medical must inspect all produce purchased for food that is unsuitable to eat.

"I want to thank everyone who comes out," Mohammed said. "It's crucial that departments send a representative. I have a saying 'the closed mouth doesn't get fed,' because we don't know issues exist unless Sailors come to the board and let us know what's wrong."

Mohammed expressed that minor concerns don't always have to be saved for the boards. She invited Sailors to bring wrongs and rights to the watch captains in the galley or to her in her office.

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