CS - Culinary Specialist

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Note: The Navy officially changed the name of "Mess Management Specialists" (MS) to "Culinary Specialist" (CS) in Jan 2004.

General Info:

Culinary specialists are cooks, bakers, dining area and living quarters managers in the Navy. It is commonly accepted that the "mess decks," or dining areas, aboard ship are the "heart of the ship," and the role they play in the morale of the ship is very important. CSs are needed on every ship in the Navy and at every shore base. Navy mess management specialists provide food services for admirals and senior government executives and run the White House Mess for the president of the United States.

What They Do:The duties performed by CSs include: preparing menus and ordering the quantities and types of food items to prepare the food; operating kitchen and dining facilities; keeping records for food supplies and financial budgets; serving as flight attendant aircrewmen; serving as personal food service specialists on admirals' staffs and for the commanding officer aboard ship or at shore bases; operating and managing living quarters aboard ship and at shore based motel/hotel type quarters.

Detailed List of Required Duties

ASVAB Score:

VE+AR=88

Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of this rating through on-the-job training or formal Navy


Great Lakes, IL -- 4 weeks

Food preparation, nutrition, dining service Group instruction and practical application

After "A" school, culinary specialists may be assigned to all types of ships and small craft and to shore facilities in the United States and overseas. During a 20-year period in the Navy, CSs spend about 60 percent of their time assigned to fleet units and 40 percent to shore stations.

Working Environment:

Culinary specialists work in kitchens, dining areas, living quarters and storerooms where food supplies are kept. The work is primarily physical and involves working as part of a team.

[+jessiloo+]

Hello, My Fiance will be a 'CS" because he has a color deficiency, and so there arent many jobs open that he can do. But it says "Great Lakes, IL -- 4 weeks" does this mean his 'A' School is that long?

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Yes, Jessica. I would plan on four weeks. Now his class may not be ready for him to start the day he finishes boot camp. He could be on hold waiting for a new class to begin but once it actually starts it does run about four weeks.

[Cindy Proud Navy Mom of Rob]

Morning ladies,
My son Rob just went to MEPS yesterday and signed up to be a CS. At first he was going to go on a Sub but, I'll admit I discouraged that ONLY because he is such an outdoorsy kid. I think the 'no windows' will drive him bonkers after a wee bit. The only glitch here is that if he were going to be on a Sub, he would have left for boot camp in September. Now that he is going to a ship, he leaves January 22,2009. His Dad & I prefer he go sooner than later but, hey the bright side is he'll be here on the holidays this year! He wanted to train to work on a flight deck but, his depth perception was not adequate enough. Of course, he did not have his own perscription glasses with him and I questioned this at the time. When they got back to the recruiting station, I was told that his own glasses may have made a difference (ya think?) so now we have to get our family optomitrist to do a test and then get his recruiter the results. If he fails -CS it is. If not, he may be able to move forward in the aviation area and then possibly leave in April 2009 for boot camp. Oh well, back when he seemed to be getting into trouble and was confused, I turned him on to cooking/baking and he did seem to enjoy it. He even took a foods class in high school and did very well. Course, doing it for fun and as a job are two different things. Either way, there are so many future options if he does become a CS and hey a chef in the family sure can't hurt-especially at holiday time-right!
Is anyone else's Sailor a CS? If so, how do they like it? Best-worst things?

[Becky L]

My daughter has been a CS on the USS Ike for a year. best things-is on a ship, new friends, and able to come and go from the ship as she pleases (unless working) since they haven't left Norfolk since she got on. worst things- cooking is canned or frozen, horrid kitchen boss (can't remember the position name), ship has gone nowhere, and look closely- it says maintain living quarters- that means if they don't need you in the kitchen you clean the quarters. that is Kas's duty right now, cleaning for the officers, however she actually likes it somewhat better than the cooking since she likes her boss in that spot. so, it's like any other job, has it's ups and downs.
Becky

[+jessiloo+]

Kyle told me last sunday when we spoke on the phone that he would be there for 4 weeks then come home for his leave 2weeks, then hes off.. is deployments regularly 6mnths,-->& if they do very well in 'A School' and he gets '1st pick' is he even guaranteed that? Or do they just end up putting you where ever they need you?

[Becky L]

deployments range in length depending on if they are on a ship or on a port base (no they don't all get ships) I think ports run about 2 years or better. and ships come and go from ports as they need to. at least that is what we seem to be finding out.
Becky

[+jessiloo+]

oh kay :)
eh. the truth is a little hard :) Thanx for the information. it is much appreciated :)

[Becky L]

the bright spot is it's easy to visit and they aren't tied to the base/ship, they can visit and stuff. I've been to see Kas and she has been home twice for long weekends.

[+jessiloo+]

ah! :) too awesome! :) maybe i'll get luckyl :) again thank you for the info :)

[Becky L]

no problem, I know how I was when Kas was starting and I'm sure it is even more nerve racking for girlfriends. LOL so where did he put for his "dream sheet", um base choices?

[+jessiloo+]

yes, just a lil bit more :)
uhm FL,FL, and i dont remember if he put GA [as his 3rd] or VA.
we'd rly like FL,GA kuz if he is in the situation like your daughter, then it would be alot closer than VA :) lol

[Leslie]

My son is in bc and will become a CS. He was counting on coming to San Antonio for A-school. IS it for sure that they stay in GL for 4 weeks for this? Feed me!! I need info!!