Posted on Jul 22, 2015
Kitchen Police otherwise known as KP duty. What memories do you have of KP duty especially in a military mess hall?
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When I joined the Army, there were very few dining facilities, mess halls and field kitchens that were not both supervised and "manned" by military dining facility managers, cooks and some not not-quite so voluntary kitchen police.
My primary kitchen police duty took place in basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in the 1970's. One of my biggest memories is looking at 500 pounds of potatoes and being told to peal them all, I had never seen so many potato eyes looking at me before :-)
I learned how to work with other soldiers in stressful situations, how to take up each other's slack when required and learn some very basic cooking techniques when feeding hundreds of hungry young men. :-)
I also learned that KP duty had side benefits including eating more than usual.
Downside was that working near onions and garlic it was impossible to blend in when I was up[wind of anybody with rank above mine - which seemed to be everybody in those days:-)
My primary kitchen police duty took place in basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in the 1970's. One of my biggest memories is looking at 500 pounds of potatoes and being told to peal them all, I had never seen so many potato eyes looking at me before :-)
I learned how to work with other soldiers in stressful situations, how to take up each other's slack when required and learn some very basic cooking techniques when feeding hundreds of hungry young men. :-)
I also learned that KP duty had side benefits including eating more than usual.
Downside was that working near onions and garlic it was impossible to blend in when I was up[wind of anybody with rank above mine - which seemed to be everybody in those days:-)
Military History
Kitchen Manager
Troops
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 34
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I pulled a lot of KP in the 60s, I remember that nobody wanted pots and pans, so I decided I was going to be the best at that job. I liked it and took others KP for extra money, it was my little business for spending money.
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CPT Jack Durish
I responded before reading your comment. I probably could have saved myself the trouble and just "liked" yours. Back sink was my favorite spot too (although for other reasons - I wasn't smart enough to charge for it)
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
I was on KP at Sheppard AFB and went out to dump the coffee grounds. I picked a shiny trash can and dumped it. When I looked in there was a German cake on the bottom. I did not say a word--just laughed.
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You bet I had KP, LTC Stephen F.! I was a squad leader in BCT and therefore exempt, but at AIT I pulled KP more than once. It was never anything for me there but a lot of work! One time I had "pots and pans". I was exhausted when we were finally done! By the way, the really cushy job was Dining Room Orderly (DRO). All you had to do was get trays for the officers. I NEVER got that job!
I also pulled KP at jump school. I guess it was after our first week, and maybe on a Sunday. It was one of the old company sized mess halls and not the large mess hall where we ate during training. I can remember sitting on the back porch peeling potatoes. Two of the cooks came out to smoke. They were totally inebriated, so I'm surprised that anyone ate anything that day!
I also pulled KP at jump school. I guess it was after our first week, and maybe on a Sunday. It was one of the old company sized mess halls and not the large mess hall where we ate during training. I can remember sitting on the back porch peeling potatoes. Two of the cooks came out to smoke. They were totally inebriated, so I'm surprised that anyone ate anything that day!
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
I remember in basic at Lackland AFB. Me and another guy had to take out one of those big trays full of fried chicken. We both ate chicken until we threw up. What a waste.
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My grandpaw (Korean War veteran) was so very proud of never having been on KP. And then, 2 weeks until it was time for him to leave the Army, his name got put on the roster. He figured, "Eh, what can they do to me?" and skipped it. (At this point in the story, I must note that this was quite unlike my granpaw. He was a very hard working man. I blame this KP-shirking on his youth.)
His CO came blustering into the barracks, telling grandpaw that he was going to do KP or he wasn't getting out of the Army. Of course, the only job left was pots and pans.
Moral of the story that he impressed upon me: do your best right up to the end.
His CO came blustering into the barracks, telling grandpaw that he was going to do KP or he wasn't getting out of the Army. Of course, the only job left was pots and pans.
Moral of the story that he impressed upon me: do your best right up to the end.
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LTC Stephen F.
I am glad that you were able to both talk with your grandfather and learn from him SGT Sarah Hoyt. The moral you learned is very important. Thanks for sharing.
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LTC Bink Romanick
You can't tell a soldiers character by the way he enters an assignment, but you can by how he leaves it.
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