Earlier in the month, Public Services students received a visit from Army chefs who came to Loughborough College to talk to students about Army chef careers and set students the challenge of creating a three-course healthy menu for soldiers using the available ration packs and a separate group VR cooking activity.
The team challenge was creating three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and a dessert from the available rations. Each of the student groups came up with different variations. Staff Sergeant Leanne Coleman from the Army Careers Office in Leicester organised the event and for the chefs to come into the college.
VR headsets were used to make a meal as gaming is a big part of young people's lives, and getting students actively involved in something interactive allowed them to try something new. The Army has a growing eGames community, and the session highlighted that the Army train via these interactive means because it cuts down on their logistic, resource, and workforce needs.
Public Services student Max Harrison commented, "It was a good insight on how the Army goes about feeding their men and women out in the fields and the different responsibilities that come with it to make it all possible."
Student Ellise Williams said: "It was very informative about the kinds of foods that are made and how they're made on deployment."
Amber Hayward, another student on the team, stated, "The virtual cooking visit we had from the Army chefs the other week was very informative. We were told about all the soldier's careers which were very interesting and intriguing. Although the virtual experience wasn't working during my session, I have heard multiple good reviews from my fellow peers, and it gave them a real taste of things in the virtual world of cooking. We had the opportunity to look at various ration packs and had an insight into the type of food they provide. The staff also put on an exercise that provides us with the experience of creating healthy menus from ration packs. All the staff was professional. They were able to answer all our questions and allowed us to talk to some of the staff on a one-to-one basis, giving us even more insight into the career. Overall, the experience was brilliant, rememberable, and made me appreciate the career of being a chef in the Army."
Staff Sergeant Leanne Coleman, Careers Advisor, Army Careers Centre, Leicester, commented, "I believe it was a positive experience; all got involved - The lead chef was very impressed throughout the week with the creativity of the meals produced."