Members of the Nebraska Army National Guard take to the kitchen

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by Katie Gauthier

Story Created: Oct 27, 2012 at 9:46 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 27, 2012 at 11:00 PM CDT

Around 20 members of the Nebraska Army National Guard are competing this weekend for a National Championship.

But it's not a typical competition. These soldiers are in the kitchen this weekend.

News 5's Katie Gauthier went to the Greenlief Training site near Hastings and has the story.

"It's like the National Championship for the football team," said Chief Warrant Officer 4, Teresa Domeier.

Domeier is the State Food Service Adviser for the Nebraska Army National Guard.

The 1167th Brigade Support Company is cooking up a hot meal.

"Would you rather eat an MRE out of bag or as we're cooking today, Parmesan chicken in marinara sauce," asked Sgt. Kevin Smith, the Senior Food Service Operation Sergeant for the 1167th Brigade Support Company of the Nebraska Army National Guard.

But not just any meal, this gourmet dinner could win them a national championship.

"When they start lighting the burner or start cutting vegetables that's when they start evaluating," CW4 Domeier said.

The Lincoln based Nebraska Army National Guard unit won the state and regional competitions earlier this year.

Now they are competing in the final round of the U.S. Army's Phillip A. Connelly cooking competition.

"There's an old saying that the Army runs on it's stomach," Sgt. Smith said. "There's nothing better on a cold rainy day than to get hot chow as a soldier in the trenches."

But there's a twist. It's 111 degrees inside the kitchen.

"They have four hours and throughout that time they're being evaluated in their performance," Sgt. Smith explained. "In addition it's about 110 degrees in there when it's about 40 degrees outside right now."

The Soldiers are cooking in an environment similar to what they would see in the field.

"A well fed soldier is a happy soldier and they will train harder and perform better," CW4 Domeier said.

The Soldiers are one of seven teams competing for the national title.

They find out their rank in the competition after the first of the year.

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