Great Steak Team Mission

So today onboard the NIMITZ, we had a cook-out. In the Navy, these are known as "steel beach picnics". Why you ask? Well, because it’s a picnic, we grill-out and eat outside and maybe play some music, toss around a ball, whatever. Just like you would on the beach. But alas, we have no sand onboard, so it is a "steel beach", since our ships are made out of steel. Got it? Ok, moving on.

So normally this is held on a Sunday, our "holiday" if you will. On a "small boy", such as the SAMMY B that I used to be on, we would have these cook-0uts once a week. Nothing crazy, but different people onboard would take turns cooking. The Chiefs one week, maybe the officers another, etc. Usually it involves flipping a few burgers, maybe grilling a few dogs.

Welll, that is some people's idea of a steel beach. Here on the NIMITZ, we like to do things a little over the top, take things one step farther. And here in the Middle East, the holy day is Friday; thus Friday's are our "no-fly" days.

It started back in about 2001 after we first went into Afghanistan. There was a man in Dallas, who was good friends with General Tommy Franks (you may remember him from the early wars). Well, this gentleman from Dallas also owned one of the best hamburger joints in the city. Consistently ranking the "Best Burger in Dallas", this guy is well known. Well, after the wars started after 9/11, the Dallas guy really wanted to do something for the troops. He kept calling "his friend"Tommy", asking if he could go to Afghanistan with him. Over and over again he asked. Finally, when he was about ready to give up, he said "well, what if I brought out 1,000 steaks with me for the troops?". It was an offer not to be refused. And thus, The Great Steak Mission was born. [www.steakteammission.org]

From their website:

Situation:
A. Friendly Forces:

1. Steak Team Mission: A group of Dallas-based restaurateurs and supporters capable of providing food and supplies for soldiers' benefit.

2. Steak Team Mission: A small team, some of whom are veterans, experienced and prepared to deploy to serve a home-cooked meal for soldiers anywhere any time....

B. Enemy Forces:

1. Bureaucrats: some folks may think this idea is unconventional, and they are right.

II. Mission:

Steak Team Mission deploys to prepare and serve up to 2,000 steak dinners with all complements to soldiers in harm's way to a remote, hazardous objective at a date and location determined by U S Army.

III. Concept of the Operation:

A. Commander's Intent: Do something kind for soldiers.

B. Scheme of Maneuver: Steak Team Mission will go anywhere by any means and would prefer to go where it is worst for soldiers.

C. Mission of Subordinate Elements: Food benefactors will supply Steak Team Mission with all Class I (food) for mission.

D. Coordinating Instructions: Steak Team Mission needs approval and transportation support to get from home to objective and back.

IV. Service & Supply:

A. Steak Team Mission can supply itself.

Since then, this guy has travelled all around the world, bringing with him a team from Texas and 1,000-2,000 steaks to troops serving all over the world. Well, about a year ago, he ran into Navy CAPT Monger in Djibouti. The steak guy told the CAPT his story, and the CAPT said "you know, I'm about to take command of an aircraft carrier in a year and we're about to go on deployment. How would you feel about bringing some steaks out to my NIMITZ Sailors?" The steak guy said "well how many steaks are we talking?" and the CAPT responded "oh, about 5,000 or so…" The steak guy was intrigued, but challenged, as he was used to serving for 1,000-2,000. [I heard this whole story because I ended up at a dinner table in the Wardroom with the steak guy]

Between this guy, and his corporate sponsors (American Airlines is one!), they figured out how to get 10,000 pounds of people, grills, supplies & 5,000 steaks from the great state of Texas all the way to the North Arabian Sea. 3 days ago, the advance team of grillers and equipment showed up, and the steaks came yesterday, in dry ice (like you would get Omaha Steaks) via the COD.

Today, we had a HUGE "steel beach picnic", complete with Grade-A steak filets, cooked any way you like them! We also enjoyed filet & bacon wrapped jalepenos (delicous!), cornbread, coleslaw and baked beans. It was a cook-out to put all cook-outs to shame.

It was also an epic day as I ventured up to the flight deck for the first time. I'd seen the flight deck from the Flag Bridge during our Strait of Hormuz transits, but it was at night and while no planes were flying. After almost a month of hearing planes crash over my head and only seeing sunlight during our port visit to Dubai, this was the first time that I had actually seen sunlight while underway and also seen the planes on the flight deck.

Overall, it was a great day. Other than that, it was business as usual- work, watch, studying, etc. It was pretty exciting though to have these people travel so far to do something so nice for us. And the steaks were DELICIOUS! (the only probably was eating them with a plastic knife!)

Here are some pictures from the day:

Here is the Admiral's plane that he flies sometimes. He is the one who is in charge of the ENTIRE strike group (remember, that's the NIMITZ, the air wing and ALL of the ships and air planes.

There are also some pictures of the F/A-18's, including me in front of one. Most of the other pictures are from the cook-out, pretty self explanatory. Enjoy! :)

The Great Steak Mission onboard the USS NIMITZ was as huge success and one that we are all very grateful for!