Spc. Tristan L. Hughel, cook, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, uncovers pies for the dinner meal at the 3rd Infantry Division Aviation Dining Facility. Hughel works for the 3rd ID so he can use his military job skills and since the 359th TTSB does not run its own mess hall. Many people say a good leader does not make something out of nothing. However, there are a few positions in the Army where that trait is actually desired.

As an Army cook, Spc. Tristan L. Hughel, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, (located at Fort Gordon, Ga.) has to do just that each and every day. With limited supplies and thousands of Soldiers to feed, Hughel doesn’t see a problem; he sees a challenge. “At home, I like to find hard recipes,” said Hughel.

Though this is the Arlington, Texas resident’s second deployment with the signal brigade, this is the first time he has gotten to serve as a cook overseas. “I was like hired help before,” he said as he explained how he did everything from inventory to supply to mail in Kuwait. The change of duty is a welcome task to the trained cook. “I feel like I am doing a little more for the war effort. And, it is like my creative outlet here.”

Hughel looks for the “enemy” during urban operations training at the Readiness Training site in Fort McCoy, Wis. in March. Since the 359th TTSB does not run its own mess hall, Hughel has been working in the dining facility run by the 3rd Infantry Division (Aviation) at Bagram. Working along a new set of comrades was not a problem for Hughel, said Sgt. Crystal Bryant, first cook, 3rd ID. “He came here and fit right in, just like family.”

When Hughel was awarded a coin of Maj. Gen. Timothy P. McHale’s, the commanding general, USFOR-A support, by the 359th TTSB command sergeant major for all his hard work, Bryant was not surprised. He is a good Soldier and eager to learn, said Bryant. “You tell him to do something and he executes. I like that.”

Hughel scoops out ice cream for servicemembers at the 3rd Infantry Division Aviation Dining Facility. His upbeat, can-do attitude is also noticed by the leadership in the 359th TTSB. “Spc. Hughel, is definitely a Soldier that’s on his way to becoming a fine NCO [noncommissioned officer] one day,” said Capt. Gervis Carlisle, commander, HHC.

Although Hughel is delighted to be in a kitchen for this deployment, he said he has different goals for the future. Upon redeploying back to Texas, the cook said he plans to complete his software engineering degree at University of Texas at Arlington. “Ultimately, I want to design video games,” said Hughel. “I would really like to make a Final Fantasy game. I have been playing that since I was seven. Now, that would be really cool.”

Unfortunately, the deployment to Afghanistan interrupted the Reservist’s new found determination to finish his degree though, said Hughel when he explained that he just started college courses again after a break. “I was just too immature before. Now, I know that school is the priority.”

He is not too worried to start classes again nevertheless, since his refocused attitude was proving to be genuine, said Hughel as he explained that he made the dean’s list in the fall of 2009 at the community college in Arlington, Texas. “I was shocked. If I can do that at UTA, then, I will be pretty proud of myself.”

To not fall to behind or lose the motivation to continue his education, Hughel said he plans to sign up for some online classes while serving in Afghanistan. So, in between his creative means of cooking and his research on video games, the Soldier will hit the books as well.

Keeping busy in a war zone is just what needs to be done, said Hughel. And when Hughel thought about his younger brother who is at Marine basic training now, he laughed and said he probably has it better off as a cook in a war zone.

“I bet he would like to trade places with me now.”