Battle Breakfast the breakfast of champions

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Saphfire D. Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The sweet and savory smells of blueberry-speckled hot cakes and crispy strips of bacon waft through the 355th Security Forces Squadron conference room.

More than 70 SFS members line the various tables around the room, their ABU caps mixed in with syrup bottles and paper cups atop the white tablecloths.

Members of the Protestant Men of the Chapel organization are also present, most of them distinguished by their bright orange t-shirts that seem to bear the logo of an all-too-familiar peanut butter and chocolate confection, but upon closer inspection, proclaim Jesus to be the "King of Kings".

The D-M chapel program, along with PMOC, hosted a Battle Breakfast in honor of our security forces troops here Jan 28.

The room carries a relaxed atmosphere that is laced with bouts of laughter and the hum of solidarity.

From the hall, the command "ROOM, ATTENTION!" rings out and chairs are hastily pushed back as those in uniform pop to attention.

The "as you were" is given, and the room returns to its state of comfort and camaraderie.

Col. David J. Uselman, 355th Mission Support Group commander, and Lt. Col. James B. Hodges, 355th SFS commander, shake hands and clap shoulders as they enter and make their way to the front of the room.

After opening remarks by Colonel Uselman and scripture and blessings by Chaplain (Capt.) Timothy D. Warf, 355th MSG chaplain, it is time to eat.

Our D-M defenders are served their breakfast by their commander, their chaplain, and the commander of mission support who not only dish-up sausage and eggs, but support and encouragement as well.

This breakfast of champions was held in response to a directive sent out by Chaplain (Maj. Gen) Cecil Richardson, the Air Force chief of chaplains. The order called for chaplains Air Force-wide to begin a campaign of support for the SF squadrons, one of the Air Force's most stressed career fields.

"This meal provided us with the opportunity to go into their world in order to boost morale and say thank you for the often overlooked service of our desert defenders," Chaplain Warf said.

The night prior to the breakfast, Chaplain Warf and members of the PMOC engaged in a marathon of cooking, spending upwards of six hours on bacon, eggs and pancakes.

"As the security forces chaplain, it is my desire to get out and work amongst those I am serving," Chaplain Warf said.

Everything needed to make this meal possible, from the flour to the forks, was provided by the D-M chapel program.

"We decided that, in God's name, we wanted to serve those who serve and protect us," said Gregory L. Pleasant, president of the PMOC. "We wanted to extend an invitation to strengthen their spiritual life and build resiliency as part of the total health and total person concept."

For those desert defenders on duty, carry-out boxes were assembled by Colonel Uselman, Colonel Hodges, Chaplain Warf and Master Sgt. Erik L. Bennett, 355th Medical Group non-commissioned officer in charge of clinical dentistry. The boxes were delivered to the Airmen by their various section chiefs.

For more information or to volunteer for chapel initiatives, contact the base chapel program at 228- 5411.