In addition to the international Culinary Olympics held every four years, the annual Philip A. Connelly Awards program is the primary means for Quartermasters to vie with their peers in food service competition.
Professional competitions allow soldiers to share their knowledge and to learn at the same time.
Such awards for excellence are rewards for going that extra mile. Army units receive the Philip A. Connelly Awards rather than teams or individuals. The late Philip A. Connelly worked throughout his life to promote professionalism in food service, both in the civilian industry and the military services. He served on evaluation committees for the Army, Air Force and Navy and was named Father of Armed Forces Food Service Awards. He is credited with more closely aligning military and civilian food service programs and with unifying goals in personnel education, training, career development and job opportunity.