TAMPA, Fla. — It’s no secret that the military can open a lot of doors. For one young Airman, it’s taken her somewhere she least expected - into the kitchen.
What You Need To Know
- Hailey Garces is a U.S. Air Force Senior Airman at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
- Garces was just honored as the recipient of the Arthur J. Myers Food Service Excellence Award for her work as a team leader in the Quick Eats section of the dining facility
- The award recognizes two junior enlisted members who make outstanding contributions to Air Force Food Service
Just about every day you can find U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Hailey Garces hard at work behind the scenes at MacDill Air Force Base.
“I joined right out of high school when I was 18, so I’ve been in for almost three years now,” Garces said.
Day in and day out, she is the team leader for the Quick Eats section of the dining facility. Garces is responsible for more than 30 menu items. Her efforts have helped the kitchen increase production and lower waste. At the beginning, she admits, food services wasn’t her first choice.
“The more I actually learned about food and make it taste good, I really do enjoy it,” she said.
Her work has not gone unnoticed.
“She always was one step ahead of everyone and she displayed leadership qualities from the get-go and we were really proud to have her on the team,” said dining facility manager MSgt Benjamin Fernandez-Walker.
Her leadership nominated Garces for a very special award. After an interview, she got it.
The Arthur J. Myers Food Service Excellence Award recognizes two junior enlisted members who make outstanding contributions to Air Force Food Service.
“We don’t always get the recognition that we really do deserve. The great thing that everyone needs to remember is that no matter how small a part of the mission, you’re still a part of the mission,” SrA Garces said.
As part of the award, she’ll receive an all-expenses paid training course at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, TX.
“Great opportunity and to be able to bring that knowledge back with me and even teach and show my coworkers, that will be great for us,” she said.
In between all her duties, Garces is staying extra busy.
“So on top of working I’m also going to college full time,” she said.
Garces shines in the kitchen, but has goals to take care of people in another way down the line.
“I think the best part is making people happy,” she said.
Her dream is to complete the Air Force’s Physician Assistant program.
“My biggest thing is just taking care of the people I really care about or even taking care of people I don’t even know,” Garces said.
Whether it’s in the kitchen, at a hospital or on the battlefield, Garces says she will keep a positive outlook and share a drive to succeed.
“Every opportunity that comes in your pathway, just try it because you never know what can happen,” she said.
Garces leaves for her week long training in San Antonio this month before heading to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas for another program.