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 CS's 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.

Note 1.  MS (Mess Management Specialist) Rating Changes Name to Better Reflect Skills:   "In a move designed to better describe the rating's duties and mission, the name changed to Culinary Specialist Jan. 15, 2004 with the release of NAVADMIN 012/04. Conversion to the new rating was automatic.