Community food show, management board provide avenue for information exchange

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - An Army marches on its stomach, and the 405th Army Field Support Brigade and Army Food Program understand this well. Recently, the 405th AFSB's food service team conducted a Food Service Management Board (FSMB) in conjunction with a community food show.

To better provide a valuable avenue for the exchange of information between leaders, food service personnel, food service managers, prime vendors and supporting agencies, the 405th AFSB conducted a professional forum in conjunction with a community food show at Armstrong's Club on Vogelweh in Kaiserslautern Sept. 16-18, 2025.

Chaired by the 405th AFSB's food service team and following an ice breaker, social and teambuilding event Sept. 16, the FSMB kicked off the morning of Sept. 17. In attendance were over 60 leaders, managers and food service professionals.

In addition to the 405th AFSB and its Logistics Readiness Centers who support the garrisons and help manage the Army Food Program in Europe, in attendance were leaders and food service professionals from U.S. Army Europe and Africa, V Corps, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Installation Management Command-Europe, Defense Logistics Agency, Southern European Task Force Africa, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Nutritional Medicine, and more.

In conjunction with the FSMB, the 405th AFSB partnered with one of its prime vendors who organized a two-day food show at the club Sept.17-18. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nicholas Snyder is the 405th AFSB's food service branch chief. He said the event was a huge step forward for the Army Food Program in Europe.

"By partnering with industry, the event provided an important avenue to explore current and new subsistence products for introduction into the Army's supply chain for use at garrison dining facilities, sister service subsistence requirements, and at Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities," Snyder said.

Snyder, who is assigned to the Support Operations Directorate at the 405th AFSB, said more than 50 vendors showcased over 200 products at the food show, with more than 400 customers attending the two-day event.

"The event showcased the professionalism and dedication of our food service leaders by bringing together strategic partners, industry stakeholders and customers to highlight the complex ecosystem, teamwork and behind-the-scenes collaboration that supports the warfighter," said Markell Scales from the Subsistence Supply Management Office in Baumholder, Germany, assigned to Logistics Readiness Center Rheinland-Pfalz

"I made several important contacts and have follow on engagements with agencies to assist in the Commanders Ready and Resilient Council's holistic health and fitness domain that includes nutrition," said Melissa Kreitzer, a program analyst with U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Also at the event, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support provided multiple training sessions on subsistence processes and procedures. As the Department of Defense's executive agent for class I (subsistence), class II (clothing and individual equipment), class IV (construction and barrier materials), and class VIII (medical materiel), DLA Troop Support provides $13 billion worth of food, clothing and textiles, construction and engineering equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, and industrial hardware items to service members and other customers annually.

"Overall, it was a huge success," said Snyder. "We have taken multiple steps to transform this event into one of the premier events for Army Food Service across the globe. A smile and handshake can go a long way in our customer service-oriented business. We must see and feel, taste and smell in order to ensure our warfighters are taken care of."

Snyder and his food service team at the 405th AFSB are in the planning phase now to conduct a similar event in the months ahead. He said their goal is to add more training opportunities at events like this in the future.

The 405th AFSB is the premier logistics integrator and synchronizer for U.S. European Command, enabling readiness solutions to 'Support the Warrior' by operationalizing U.S. Army Materiel Command capabilities and delivering readiness within the U.S. Army Europe and Africa areas of responsibility at the point of need.

The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa - providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging AMC's materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website and the official Facebook site.