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how to be a military chef?
How hard is it for someone with autism to become a military chef, and how long would it take to acheive that goal?
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4 answers
Updated
ANDI’s Answer
In the Navy we have CSs, Culinary Specialists, and they have one of the easiest standards in the Navy for recruiting.
There are certain disqualifiers for military service, but I'm not sure if Autism, or certain levels, fall into that.
I would speak with a recruiter and attempt the ASVAB to see your options.
Our bootcamp in 8 weeks, but I am unsure of specifics on how long the following CS A-school is.
There are certain disqualifiers for military service, but I'm not sure if Autism, or certain levels, fall into that.
I would speak with a recruiter and attempt the ASVAB to see your options.
Our bootcamp in 8 weeks, but I am unsure of specifics on how long the following CS A-school is.
Updated
Scott’s Answer
Autism needs to be addressed with a recruiter, who will contact your doctor and all information will be forwarded to recruiting command for a decision. There is no cut and dry answer to this. While the military values a diverse team, standards of trainability must still be adhered to. I strongly suggest discussing this matter directly with a recruiter.
As for being a 'chef'.....you would generally start off as a 'food service specialist' which in humble terms is the equivalent of a short order cook/food prep assistant. As stated earlier, you would generally attend 8 weeks of basic training and 8 weeks of specialty skills training. (This may vary between branches) The hours are long, the conditions are hot and other Soldiers may harass you for 'just being a cook'. With that said, I can tell you that feeding Soldiers is the MOST IMPORTANT task required to keep morale high and keep Soldiers moving. Food service specialists provide hot meals to hungry Soldiers, they keep feeding stations sanitary and they help combat vermin and disease in the field. Becoming a food service specialist does not require any specifically high ASVAB scores, but it is one of the most important jobs in the military. The Army marches on its stomach.
On a side note, one of my best friends was a Food Service Specialist. This guy can make a meal fit for a king from yesterday's scraps. He made Army chow exciting. We all looked forward to eating his food. Don't ever let anyone discourage you from 'just being a cook' in the Army. It's an incredibly rewarding job.
As for being a 'chef'.....you would generally start off as a 'food service specialist' which in humble terms is the equivalent of a short order cook/food prep assistant. As stated earlier, you would generally attend 8 weeks of basic training and 8 weeks of specialty skills training. (This may vary between branches) The hours are long, the conditions are hot and other Soldiers may harass you for 'just being a cook'. With that said, I can tell you that feeding Soldiers is the MOST IMPORTANT task required to keep morale high and keep Soldiers moving. Food service specialists provide hot meals to hungry Soldiers, they keep feeding stations sanitary and they help combat vermin and disease in the field. Becoming a food service specialist does not require any specifically high ASVAB scores, but it is one of the most important jobs in the military. The Army marches on its stomach.
On a side note, one of my best friends was a Food Service Specialist. This guy can make a meal fit for a king from yesterday's scraps. He made Army chow exciting. We all looked forward to eating his food. Don't ever let anyone discourage you from 'just being a cook' in the Army. It's an incredibly rewarding job.
Updated
Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello Austin, thank you for your question. Well for starters there is a culinary school you have to attend and pass; it is eight weeks long. The hours for the school are from 2:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mon-Fri. This is the school you will attend after you go through basic training for the military. During your 8 weeks of culinary school, you'll learn knife handling skills, you will also learn about cooking temperatures, and food sanitation, which includes food borne illness, food intoxication and food infection. Now you will learn a lot more with hands on training, but everybody learns at a different pace, I wish you the best of luck.
Updated
James’s Answer
If you want to be a cook in the military, you will have to request a contract for that job when you visit a recruiter. They will be able to fill you in on more specific requirements, or if that job is even available at the time.