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Marine veteran Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burns unveils his dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Marine veteran Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burns unveils his dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Marine veteran Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burns unveils his dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Marine veteran Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burns unveils his dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Ret. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Sondheimer finishes preparing her meal during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Ret. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Sondheimer finishes preparing her meal during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Members of the Coast Guard Team during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - prepares a taco on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

Members of the Coast Guard Team during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - prepares a taco on Saturday, June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A cook prepares part of the dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

A cook prepares part of the dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Military spouse Donella Pearson with the U.S. Army team prepares some food during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Military spouse Donella Pearson with the U.S. Army team prepares some food during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

People line up waiting for their turn to sample fare - and then vote - on each military branch during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

People line up waiting for their turn to sample fare - and then vote - on each military branch during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A little girl waits patiently inside the tent during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

A little girl waits patiently inside the tent during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Burgers ready to enjoy at the start of the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016

Burgers ready to enjoy at the start of the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016 (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A child samples the Air force table's burger during the Military Chef Cook-Off for the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

A child samples the Air force table's burger during the Military Chef Cook-Off for the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burn, chef for the USMC, hands out sample fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burn, chef for the USMC, hands out sample fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A chef grills some chicken during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016

A chef grills some chicken during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016 (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

BBQ chicken grills during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

BBQ chicken grills during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Visitors vote on their favorite fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Visitors vote on their favorite fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A member of the U.S.M.C. team sings the Marines' Hymn (The Halls of Montezuma) during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. The team from the U.S. Coast Guard, which was located next to the U.S.M.C., took up the challenge next, and started to sing Semper Paratus.

A member of the U.S.M.C. team sings the Marines' Hymn (The Halls of Montezuma) during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. The team from the U.S. Coast Guard, which was located next to the U.S.M.C., took up the challenge next, and started to sing Semper Paratus. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

In this shot taken with a wide-angle lense, the U.S. Coast Guard serve up some fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. The Coast Guard was the last service in line, competing against the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The voting containers were located behind the white Coast Guard flag.

In this shot taken with a wide-angle lense, the U.S. Coast Guard serve up some fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. The Coast Guard was the last service in line, competing against the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The voting containers were located behind the white Coast Guard flag. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

In this shot taken with a wide-angle lense, people get ready to vote after sampling fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

In this shot taken with a wide-angle lense, people get ready to vote after sampling fare during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

The lead chef from the U.S. Air Force team serves her dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

The lead chef from the U.S. Air Force team serves her dish during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Visitors sample the fare at the U.S. Army table during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016.

Visitors sample the fare at the U.S. Army table during the Military Chef Cook-Off - part of the Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2016. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON — Arrive hungry, leave stuffed and help a good cause is the game plan at the USO-hosted Military Chef Cook-Off, part of the annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle this weekend.

Teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard turned on their grills Saturday morning on Pennsylvania Ave.

“Today we are doing the José Cuervo taco,” said U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Chad Adams.

It’s a twist from last year’s fare, when Adams cooked the Bob Marley Mango Chicken Express. This year's taco has a rub with eight different seasonings, homemade black beans and pico de gallo.

“We’re here to rock it out," he said. "It's all all active-duty members over here (on the Coast Guard team). It’s a little different, no offense Master Gunnery,” Adams joked.

Marine veteran Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Burns, who deployed to Vietnam in 1972, exchanged friendly banter with the Coast Guard throughout the early afternoon. At one point, a member of the USMC team broke out into the Marine Corps Hymn, which led the Coast Guardsmen to respond with their own song.

“I’m looking to take home a first place trophy,” Burns said.

Burns pointed out their sample of five sauces — something the other services didn’t have.

The USMC team was second-to-last in the row of service branches' tents. Their neighbor, the Coast Guard, was the final stop for the line of festival-goers.

“By the time they get through the gantlet of all that Bubba BBQ, their palate’s going to be blown up," Adams said. "That’s why we gotta soften it up with a taco.”

The winner from last year, retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Sondheimer, said keeping it simple is best.

The U.S. Army team was ready to take on the competition. Situated first in the row, they didn’t lack confidence.

“First just means the place you’re going to finish in,” Spc. Jamal Winefield said. “They try us first, they try everybody last. They’re like, ‘Oh, I like that one the best,’ because we’re going to be on their palate first. Everyone else is just a palate cleanser along the way.”

Winefield, a veteran who served in Afghanistan in 2012, was working alongside military spouse Donella Pearson. Together they came up with their recipe, which included BBQ chicken with mild and spicy sauce, and grilled apples with whiskey and brown sugar.

“We tried to figure out what local fruits and vegetables were being grown right now,” Pearson said. “Whiskey goes really well with fruit, especially when you cook it off. So with the brown sugar and the whiskey, it creates almost a caramel.”

“It’s a match made in heaven,” Winefield added.

Giant Foods will be donating a portion of the weekend's proceeds to the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. According to a PR representative, Giant was hoping to raise more than $100,000 for the military charity.

The military competition is a two-day event, with results to be tallied Sunday night.

Email: Tibbetts.meredith@stripes.com Twitter: @mjtibbs

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