Fort Jackson
“Victory Starts Here”

Fort Jackson is the Army’s largest and most active Initial Training Center in the United States. More than 50 percent of all Soldiers entering the Army each year train here. In April 2022, Robert and the Robert Irvine Foundation visited Fort Jackson and had a life-changing experience.

The Visit

The visit began with a trip to Victory Tower. Our team watched and participated in training exercises alongside the trainees and instructors. We continued by observing the training programs at Confidence Obstacle Course and at the United States Army Physical Fitness School. These training exercises help build our troops and create incredible Soldiers.

The next day, we joined an intimate crowd at 6:00 AM to observe a Soldier Induction Ceremony. The trainee starts with a 10-mile march which ends on a field. We watched as his training officer handed him his Army patch and beret. He was previously called a Trainee – now he is called a Soldier.

Later, Robert and his cooking team toured the Warrior Restaurants and spent time with the military cooks and chefs. Robert provides mentorship by giving a space to listen, answer questions, provide pro-tips, and motivate.

Closing out the afternoon, we attended the Graduation Ceremony. This is a large event with families and friends that come to celebrate the graduating class. It is a huge achievement and an experience we were honored to be a part of.

Breaking Bread With Heroes

Robert’s cooking career began in the Royal Navy. During this time, he saw firsthand the power food has on people. He watched his fellow brothers and sisters sit down together at a table to enjoy a meal. It was an opportunity to relax, bond, and connect, like a family.

Our Breaking Bread With Heroes program is designed to emulate the experience Robert witnessed early on in his career. Following the Graduation Ceremony, we hosted a Breaking Bread With Heroes for the graduating class and their proud families.

Food is love. We loved being at Fort Jackson to celebrate our Soldiers and families by serving a meal prepared from the heart.

Check out two recipes that were served at Robert Irvine Foundation’s Breaking Bread With Heroes.

Espresso Rubbed Smoked Brisket

Serves 20 People

Ingredients

  • 1 whole 8 to 12 lbs. raw beef brisket, fat trimmed if needed

For the Espresso Dry Rub

  • ½ lb. ground espresso
  • 1½ lbs. dark brown sugar
  • ¾ lb. kosher salt
  • 2½ tbsp ground cumin
  • ⅓ cup garlic powder
  • ½ cup black pepper
  • 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 3 tbsp ground cinnamon

Make It

  1. Mix all the espresso dry rub ingredients together.
  2. Rub the raw brisket well with the dry rub mix and place it in the fridge for at least 12 hours.
  3. Place the rubbed brisket into a smoker at 225° F degrees and hold at 180 F degrees for 12 to 14 hours, depending on the size of the brisket. The internal temp in the middle of the cooked brisket needs to be between 180° F and 190° F degrees after being done.

Southern-Style Turkey Meatloaf

Serves 6-8 People

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs. raw ground turkey meat
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 cup onions, small diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup canned cooked collard greens, juice strained and chopped– store-bought
  • 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 tsp Cajun spice seasoning – store-bought
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Make It

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350° F degrees.
  2. In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the oil, onions, and garlic. Sauté the onions and garlic for 1 to 2 minutes until the onions are translucent, then allow to cool down.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, mix the sautéed onion & garlic along with all the other ingredients together well.
  4. Form the meatloaf mixture into a pan-sprayed casserole dish and cover with foil wrap.
  5. Cook the meatloaf for 40 to 45 minutes until the internal temp in the middle of the meatloaf reaches 165 degrees.
  6. Remove from the oven, uncover, and allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.