Quartermaster Corps Research Paper

The Army Quartermaster Corps has been around since 16 June 1775. The Quartermaster Corps is made up of all elements that support warfighters while in garrison and in war times. Food service is a very important element in the Quartermaster Corps. The Army food service assists by building moral to help win wars and achieve satisfactory training.

There is no way to operate as a warfighter without proper nutrition. During the Civil War, the U.S lost more Soldiers due to illness and inadequate nourishment than Soldiers killed in action. During the Civil War Soldiers was given a set number of rations that had to be prepared by the Soldier. Improper handling of food and sanitation issues lead the Army to start properly training cooks post Civil War.

America felt this war was very unwarranted, but this war became the turning point for food service and Food Service Technicians. In the Spanish American War 268 of the 3,862 who died were killed by bullets or wounds sustained while fighting the enemy. The rest were killed by illness and diseases which was created by foodborne illness.

In 1905 the Baker School opened at Fort Riley, KS and became the official school to properly train cooks to an acceptable standard. The Army became successful in training personnel to ensure Soldiers are properly fed and correct sanitation, but the force still encountered many obstacles. A colossal complication appeared during the Spanish American War. America felt this war was very unwarranted, but this war became the turning point for food service and food service technicians.

As time moved forward and leaders of America analyzed the Army weakness during wars, it became unanimous that proper feeding on the battlefield is key to sustaining the force reediness. Schools to properly train food service personnel became a priority and schools such as Bakers Schools was created all over the Army footprint. In August 1912, Congress merged the old Pay, Subsistence, and Quartermaster Departments in a single Quartermaster