PI062: Parris Island’s Strict Food Menu a Recipe for Nutritional Marine Corps Recruit Training

by Lance Cpl. David Bessey

Recruit eating a hot meal at the mess hall. Male recruits consume approximately 3,950 calories and females consume 2,700 calories each day (Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

Recruit eating a hot meal at the mess hall. Male recruits consume approximately 3,950 calories and females consume 2,700 calories each day (Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “An army marches on its stomach.” No matter how strong or technologically advanced the military force, everyone needs to eat.

The same is true for recruits on Parris Island. Training cannot happen if recruits are malnourished or dehydrated.

Marines and civilians tasked with the depot’s food services ensure every recruit receives three meals a day to keep their bodies healthy and strong for the demanding training.

The depot serves approximately 5 million meals each year to sustain the average 6,000 recruits in training at any given time, said Master Sgt. Kinneth Bouknight, 40, the senior food service staff noncommissioned officer.

Recruits receive food that is served in three forms, which are a hot meal from a mess hall, a boxed meal or a field ration based on a company’s training schedule, said Bouknight, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich.

The hot meals form the basis of most meals served on Parris Island. Three of the four recruit mess halls operate on the same master menu, which runs on a 21-day cycle.

The portion size of each item is controlled to ensure every recruit receives a daily amount of calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and water needed to keep their bodies fueled throughout training.

The meals consist of five major parts, which are meats, vegetables, starches, soups and desserts. However, the meal servings can be adjusted if a recruit is a vegetarian.

“If a recruit goes through the mess hall and says they’re a vegetarian, then they may get increased servings of vegetables and starches,” said Capt. David Hunley, 35, the food service director. “They are not forced to eat meat.”

Recruits also have access to vegetarian boxed meals and field rations.

A recruit grabs a dessert on Parris Island, S.C. Each hot meal consists of at least an entree, starch, vegetable, soup and dessert.(Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

A recruit grabs a dessert on Parris Island, S.C. Each hot meal consists of at least an entree, starch, vegetable, soup and dessert.(Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

Male recruits consume approximately 3,950 calories, and females consume approximately 2,700 calories each day, said Bouknight.

The females at 4th Recruit Training Battalion are served from a different menu, because women are generally smaller and burn calories differently than men.

They are served more turkey-based products, and desserts consist of only pudding and gelatin, said Michael Smith, the 4th Recruit Training Battalion mess hall productions manager.

No food served in the mess halls is enhanced with added vitamins, minerals or chemicals other than spices for flavoring, said Joey Carles, operations manager for all mess halls on Parris Island.

Even with all this food being consumed, there are times when it isn’t enough for the rigors of recruit training.

Recruits eat a hot meal. Recruits recieve three meals each day in training. (Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

Recruits eat a hot meal. Recruits recieve three meals each day in training. (Photo by Lance Cpl. David Bessey)

In 2011, Parris Island began issuing protein bars to the training companies to give to their recruits after intensive training sessions.

The bars are given to recruits to combat fatigue and give an extra energy boost during physical training events exceeding 60 minutes.

While recruits must meet a certain weight to enter recruit training they must also meet the Marine Corps’ standards by the time they graduate.

Recruits whose weight needs to be managed may receive reduced calories, and recruits who need to gain weight may receive double servings at each meal, said Bouknight.

The food recruits are served has a huge impact on how their bodies strengthen in training.

“Their body is going to put on more muscle, lose fat and become leaner,” said Hunley, a native of Columbia, S.C.

Since 2002, a civilian contractor has managed every Marine Corps mess hall on the East Coast. The 2011, $1 billion, eight-year contract means recruits no longer work in mess halls like in years past.

The Marines and civilians in charge of nutrition on Parris Island devote themselves to ensuring each recruit receives nutritious food needed to sustain training.

“A recruit will never go without a meal,” said Bouknight.

5 comments

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    • Cesar Arguello on October 9, 2017 at 7:54 am

    Hi Vera. I like to know it’s there a limit on how many family members can come to family and graduation day?

      • on October 9, 2017 at 8:44 am

      Hi Cesar, At present there are no restrictions on the number of guests attending the graduation provided they have the required documentation to get on the base.

        • Cesar Arguello on October 9, 2017 at 10:31 am

        Thank you Vera. I’ll be renting a car. What do I require for the car Besides my drivers license?

          • on October 13, 2017 at 10:25 pm

          Hi Cesar, In order to drive a vehicle onto Parris Island, you will need the following:
          1) A valid driver’s license
          2) Vehicle registration
          3) Proof of auto insurance
          If you are driving a rental car: you will need a valid driver’s license, proof of liability insurance, and a copy of your rental agreement.

            • Cesar Arguello on October 14, 2017 at 12:30 am

            Thank you Vera. My son is entering phase as of last week. We expect to be at his graduation December 1st. Counting the days.

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