"Fort Carson Soldiers' Dining Struggles and Triumphs"

Challenges Faced by Fort Carson Soldiers

Soldiers at Fort Carson, home to the 4th Infantry Division, have been voicing their concerns about the quality of food. Posts on Hots&Cots have highlighted issues such as inadequate protein, warm sushi, and even a meal consisting of lima beans and toast. One soldier mentioned that the dining facilities were overcrowded, leading to a 45-minute wait for food. Empty grab-and-go kiosks, which were supposed to serve as supplementary food sources, were also a common sight.

Lt. Col. Joey Payton, a spokesperson for Fort Carson, addressed these issues in a statement. He acknowledged that there have been challenges with the consistency and quality of soldiers' dining experiences at the warrior restaurants and kiosks. However, the base is committed to ensuring that soldiers receive quality and healthy meals and can make full use of their meal benefits.

Efforts to Improve Dining Services

The base has taken several steps to address the concerns. The dining staff has been directed to ensure that soldiers can select any item on the menu during the facilities' open hours. Fort Carson is also "reinvigorating" its dining facility council, which consists of brigade-level leaders. This move is aimed at ensuring leader emphasis across all food service facilities.

In addition, the base is constantly working on improving the quality and variety of food. As of early December, Fort Carson's dining program was the subject of 39 posts on Hots&Cots, significantly more than other installations. This shows that the base is taking the issue seriously and is actively working towards improvement.

Nutrition and Active Lifestyles

Several posts on Hots&Cots have emphasized the importance of nutrition for soldiers with active lifestyles. Many soldiers have pointed out that the amount of protein they receive is insufficient to fuel their daily activities. One soldier posted in late November, "The amount of protein you get is terrible. The food is small, and the corn is barely bigger than my pinky. The rice is overcooked, and the bread is hard. The vegetable spread is terrible."

Another soldier posted a photo of a to-go container of pasta salad earlier in November and wrote, "Zero protein. You can't build athletes on this." These comments highlight the need for the base to pay more attention to the nutritional value of the food served.

Thanksgiving Delight

Reviews from the past week, especially those from Thanksgiving, have been positive. A soldier posted a 5-star review of a dining facility at Fort Carson on Dec. 2, applauding the installation's Thanksgiving meal. The plate was stacked with turkey, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese, and the message was, "Warfighter's Thanksgiving meal was awesome! Lines were quick, and the food variety/quality were both outstanding. The live music was a nice touch too. The team killed it on this one! Loved seeing so much leader engagement."

This shows that the base has made significant progress in improving the dining services. The soldiers are now able to enjoy delicious and satisfying meals, especially during special occasions like Thanksgiving.

Barracks and Food Preparation

The barracks at Fort Carson can house over 8,000 troops, many of whom are single, enlisted soldiers. More than 4,600 soldiers are meal-card holders and rely on on-base dining facilities. Some soldiers may lack the necessary equipment to prepare their own meals. The Government Accountability Office has cited the lack of food preparation areas in Army barracks as a service-wide problem.

In a report last year, the federal watchdog said that many barracks provided only refrigerators and microwaves, while Defense Department standards mandate that permanent party barracks without living rooms must include kitchenettes. Some soldiers have told GAO investigators that they rely on microwaveable meals or fast food, which can lead to health problems.