I can recall that there were two types of cooks in infantry regiments:
1)Army Catering Corp cook - attached to a unit for a number of years and they will have done basic training like every soldier.

2)Regimental Cooks - men from within the Regiment who go on a cooking course and come back,if qualified,as a cook. These cooks will have done their infantry training and if applicable undergone the NCO cadres necessary to learn battlefield leadership skills.

So no problem if it is a 2) but if it is a 1) then hellzapoppin.

Just my 2 percent.
CD.