Food, morale, and extended deployments

Commanders should explain difficult assignments clearly and treat food and rest as serious morale concerns. The US Navy tradition of serving steak and lobster when deployments are extended illustrates that concern. Well-supported sailors could weigh additional sea time, earnings, promotion prospects, or chances to demonstrate their ability against the extra demand. Hunger and exhaustion made the same announcement harder to accept. Cooking quality mattered too: badly prepared mass catering could undermine the goodwill a meal was intended to create. Curries offered a naval example of turning mediocre ingredients into a hearty meal through generous seasoning. Provisioning therefore involved preparing food that crews enjoyed as well as obtaining sufficient supplies.