Food service workers make meals matter for Veterans 

A healthy, nutritious (and delicious) meal can go a long way towards healing both body and soul. That’s why the cooks and food service workers that support our facilities here at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are so valuable, and why we’re always looking for more talented folks to join those teams.  

“If you’re looking for a career, if you want to work in food service and move your way up the ladder, there’s opportunities,” offered VA cook Larry Thomas.  

The right role 

At the core of food services at VA are the cooks and the food service workers who staff our kitchens and cafeterias.  

Just like someone working in a restaurant, our cooks can be found grilling up breakfasts one minute and shifting to cold cuts for lunch the next. They also work in large quantities, given that they are often making for hundreds of patients at a time. Still, if you know your way around a large kitchen, you would be welcome as a cook at VA. 

Meanwhile, our food service workers are delivering excellent dining that nourishes the Veterans we serve. As with our cooks, food service workers work in our cafeteria environments, but you’re at the front of the house, setting up stations and serving food to Veterans and visitors throughout the day.  

And when the rush is over, everyone chips in around the kitchen with cleaning and maintenance, because safety, sanitation, and quality — along with good food — are the keys to our success. 

The right benefits 

As with all the careers that can be built at VA, we offer a bounty of benefits that can feel like a feast when compared to other jobs.  

When it comes to caring for yourself and your family, we offer the choice of a variety of health plans, and all cover preexisting conditions. Additionally, we pay up to 75% of health premiums, a benefit that can continue into retirement, making our insurance some of the best you’ll find.   

If time is your most valuable commodity, we’ll make sure you have plenty of it, with 13-26 days paid leave, as well as 13 sick days annually, 11 paid federal holidays each year, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.  

When the time comes to retire, your finances will be secure. VA employees have access to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which allows you to tax-defer a portion of your income each year, similar to a 401(k). 

For the Veterans who choose to join our ranks, all those benefits are in addition to any you earned if you served in the military. As a VA employee, you can choose to carry over eligible military service time that can be added to your total years of service for retirement purposes. 

And food service doesn’t have to be your final stop. When you’re ready for a new challenge, we offer ongoing leadership development through every level of employment, whether it is mandatory programs or competitive opportunities. We also have resources that make it easier for you to continue your education if you choose.  

“You get to meet people from different departments and learn what you want to do as a career at VA, and work your way on up,” Thomas added.  

The right team 

Whether you’re deep in the kitchen or on the front line interacting with Veterans, we know that your dedication to good food is second only to your dedication to our mission to serving (literally and figuratively) those who have served.  

“I get to work with Veterans on a day-to-day basis,” said Thomas. “Just listening to them makes me feel good, they tell their stories, and it’s just an honor to hear what they’ve been through. It’s amazing.”