This family-oriented challenge behind them, Curtis tells the cheftestants that family will also play a big part of their elimination challenge. In turn, the elimination challenge will determine who will compete in the show's finale. With that, the cheftestants draw their knives. Mary Sue draws Marine Corps. Naomi draws Air Force. Traci draws Navy, and Floyd draws Army. Curtis introduces the panel, each of whom has a close relative in the armed forces, from brothers to fathers and husbands. As such, the cheftestants must create a homecoming meal for each of the servicemen and serve a buffet to their families at a big celebration the next day.

All the cheftestants dive into the challenge. Mary Sue is happy with the Guatemalan flavors she's lucked into serving to her partner and his brother. On the other hand, Traci is challenged by the simple dishes her partner wants to make for her husband/baby daddy. Likewise, Floyd finds a woman whose husband does not care for spice and is concerned how he will pull it off. Naomi decides to take a risk by serving poke to honor her Hawaiian serviceman.

Prep time passes like the wind as the chefs pull out their finest to honor the men and women who serve the country. Mary Sue offers up tomatillo barbecue ribs and avocado corn relish with potato and rajas, as well as apple and cream cheese bread pudding with crema. The Guatemalan brothers appreciate the Latin flavor, and one of the marines appreciates the "green avocado-y stuff on top," a.k.a. avocado.