Articles
June 26, 2025
AMPED up: New program to offer opportunities for military personnel
Foundation to debut advanced training initiative to interest service men and women in industry careers.
The initiative is geared toward providing upskilling opportunities for active-duty service members seeking specialized training in the culinary arts, foodservice management, and more.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is launching the Advanced Military Professional Educational Development program (AMPED), a new initiative geared toward providing upskilling opportunities for active-duty service members in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command, seeking specialized training in the culinary arts, foodservice management, event management and more.
According to Derek Small, the EF’s military program director, AMPED will:
He added that each meeting would be sponsored by a specific industry partner, who helps design the specific curricula.
“There are so many different aspects of the hospitality sector to explore, and AMPED is going to give us the ability to open doors for military personnel in hospitality service areas—beyond the back of the house,” Small said.
Session topics at the meetings will include discussions on:
The Foundation will hold two meetings this year and four in 2026, with plans to expand after that. Currently a pilot program, AMPED’s initial meeting will host 18 to 20 individuals.
“The main thing that excites me most about AMPED is its versatility,” Small said. “I started out as a cook in the military and can tell you it’s come a long way since that time, particularly in the way we think about what that post job looks like. It gives me hope that individuals like me, who were ‘voluntold’ to pursue foodservice, will see this industry as one that offers opportunities to pursue. We want to let service men and women know that restaurants and hospitality businesses, the second-largest private-sector employer in the United States, not only offers educational and economic value, but also careers to consider for the future.”
Designed to enhance learning and critical thinking
The program is fully funded and free to its participants, who are selected by their military commanding officers, to take the training. It’s also fully customizable, and designed by industry partners to enhance learning, integrate cutting-edge technologies, and foster critical thinking. The first AMPED meeting debuts July 29-31 at Hormel Foods’ headquarters in Austin, MN.According to Derek Small, the EF’s military program director, AMPED will:
- Allow industry partners to provide customized training in culinary arts, nutrition, logistics, and procurement to give service members more options beyond foodservice
- Feature a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on activities, where participants can earn industry certifications as part of their training
- Attract active-duty service members who are looking to upskill and increase their industry knowledge
He added that each meeting would be sponsored by a specific industry partner, who helps design the specific curricula.
“There are so many different aspects of the hospitality sector to explore, and AMPED is going to give us the ability to open doors for military personnel in hospitality service areas—beyond the back of the house,” Small said.
Session topics at the meetings will include discussions on:
- Operations logistics, such as procurement and storage, distribution, and waste management
- Professional conduct and presentation
- Alternative cooking methods that accommodate dietary needs and food allergies, and provide support for medical and recovery diets
- Nutrition, health and disease prevention
Offering opportunities for the future
In addition to providing advanced training, Small said the goal is to ultimately interest service members in restaurant and hospitality careers, where their discipline and expertise would prove invaluable to the industry, especially because of the leadership, logistics, and crisis management skills they possess.The Foundation will hold two meetings this year and four in 2026, with plans to expand after that. Currently a pilot program, AMPED’s initial meeting will host 18 to 20 individuals.
“The main thing that excites me most about AMPED is its versatility,” Small said. “I started out as a cook in the military and can tell you it’s come a long way since that time, particularly in the way we think about what that post job looks like. It gives me hope that individuals like me, who were ‘voluntold’ to pursue foodservice, will see this industry as one that offers opportunities to pursue. We want to let service men and women know that restaurants and hospitality businesses, the second-largest private-sector employer in the United States, not only offers educational and economic value, but also careers to consider for the future.”
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