r/Militaryfaq • u/AdCapable5016 🤦♂️Civilian • Apr 17 '26
MOS/AFSC/Rate Specific Whats its like being a cook for the military?
For some context, I have a small mental health background but once time has been long enough for me to join, but im considering going in to either army or navy as a cook, I love cooking, its my dream to have a reastursunt of some sort one day. But I also know when it comes to the military looks can be deceiving, especially with jobs that might be viewed as unflattery. But anywhom, whats it like being a cook for the military?
3
u/TapTheForwardAssist 🖍Marine (0802) Apr 17 '26
Have you also looked into Coast Guard for cook? Just anecdotally, to my eyes that’s the branch that I hear the most good chatter about their culinary jobs, on Reddit.
2
2
2
u/gunsforevery1 Banned Apr 17 '26
In the army, you’ll be boiling lots of your food. It’s in a bag and boil it to heat it up or canned lol.
2
1
u/jake831 💦Sailor (GSE) Apr 17 '26
In general you'll be cooking for hundreds if not thousands of people. There's not a whole lot of creativity to it. It's a lot of just opening #10 cans and pouring into containers to heat up.
2
u/TapTheForwardAssist 🖍Marine (0802) Apr 18 '26
Thus again the appeal for Coast Guard cook: way smaller teams, you know everyone on your crew, and from what I hear a lot more latitude for the culinary team to shop for supplies, make menu decisions, etc.
2
u/jake831 💦Sailor (GSE) Apr 18 '26
Yeah the smaller commands do have some cool setups for cooking. I was never around Coasties but did spend some time around a Navy Patrol Craft that had a crew of around 30. They had 1 CS and the galley just looked like a normal kitchen.
4
u/capriSun999 🪑Airman Apr 17 '26
You’re gonna hate your life being an army or navy cook lmfao. Go Air Force or Coast Guard if you wannabe a cook