Formal military dinners are a tradition in all branches of the United States armed services. In the Air Force and Navy, it is the Dining-In; in the Army, the Regimental Dinner; in the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, Mess Night. The Dining-Out, on the other hand, is a relatively new custom that includes spouses and guests. Otherwise, it is similar to the Dining-In.

As with most ancient traditions, the origin of the Dining-In is not clear. Formal dinners are rooted in antiquity. From pre-Christ Roman legions, to second century Viking warlords, to King Arthur's knights in the sixth century, feasts to honor military victories and individual and unit achievements have been a custom.

Some trace the origins of the Dining-In to the old English monasteries. The custom was then taken up by the early universities and eventually adopted by the military with the advent of the officers' mess. With the adoption of the Dining-In by the military, these dinners became more formalized. British soldiers brought the custom to colonial America, where it was borrowed by George Washington's continental army.

It is said that in the early 1900's, when England was the reigning power in India, there was an English Army Post where the Dining-In/Out received its first impetus. The Commander of this outpost in India had officers under his command who lived on the post, had their own mess hall, but were never around for dinner. Since the local area was more interesting than the Post Officers' Mess, the Post Commander found himself eating alone many nights. To bring the officers back to the mess and to create camaraderie, the Post Commander instituted a program whereby all officers would not only dine at least once a month in the mess, but they would dine in full military ceremony.

The Air Force Dining-In custom probably began in the 1930's with the late General H.H. "Hap" Arnold's "wing-dings". The close bonds enjoyed by Air Corps officers and their British colleagues of the Royal Air Force during World War II surely added to the American involvement in the Dining-In custom.

The Dining-In has served the Air Force well as an occasion to meet socially at a formal military function. It enhances the spirit of units, lightens the load of demanding day-to-day work, gives the commander an opportunity to meet socially with his or her subordinates, and enables the ranks to create bonds of friendship and better working relations through an atmosphere of good fellowship.

The following is a list of rules under which the Mess will be conducted. They are designed to conform to tradition and promote levity. Violators of these rules are subject to the wrath and mischievousness of Madam and/or Mister Vice. Any and all assigned penalties will be carried out before the membership.

The President is the final decision maker and is never wrong.

Thou shalt arrive within 10 minutes of the appointed hour.

Thou shalt not bring hats or caps into the Mess.

Thou shalt make every effort to meet all guests.

Thou shalt move to the mess when thou hearest the chimes and remain standing until seated by the President.

Thou shalt not bring cocktails or lighted smoking material into the mess.

Thou shalt smoke only when the smoking lamp is lit.

Thou shalt not leave the mess whilst convened. Military protocol over rides all calls of nature.

Thou shalt participate in all toasts unless thyself or thy group is honored with a toast.

Thou shalt ensure that thy glass is always charged when toasting.

Thou shalt keep toasts and comments within the limits of good taste and mutual respect. Degrading or insulting remarks will be frowned upon by the membership. However, good natured needling is ENCOURAGED.

Thou shalt not murder the Queen's English.

Thou shalt not "open the hanger doors".

Thou shalt always use the proper toasting procedures.

Thou shalt fall into disrepute with thy peers if the pleats of thy cummerbund are not properly faced.

Thou shalt also be painfully regarded if thy clip-on bow tie rides at an obvious list. Thou shalt be forgiven, however, if thee also ride at a comparable list.

Thou shalt consume thy meal in a manner becoming a gentle person.

Thou shalt not laugh at ridiculously funny comments unless the President first shows approval by laughing.

Thou shalt express thy approval by tapping thy spoon on the table. Clapping of hands will not be tolerated unless the President of the Mess does so first.

Thou shalt not use any portion of the decorations or food items as projectiles, unless of course, following the example of the President.

Thou shalt rhyme all the lines of the toasts, but to read from a script "tis crime utmost!

Thou shalt not question the decisions of the President, or Mister/Madam Vice.

When the mess adjourns, thou shalt rise and wait for the President and guests to leave.

Thou shalt not be sent to the grog before it is christened.

Thou shalt enjoy thyself to the fullest.

When in doubt, see Rule 1.

The custom of toasting is universal. It is believed that the custom came into wide acceptance after the effects of poisons were discovered. When two persons, who might be antagonists, drank from the same source at the same instant and suffered no ill effects, a degree of mutual trust and rapport could be established. With this foundation laid, discussions could continue on a more cordial basis. Today, toasting is a simple courtesy to the person(s) being honored.

TOASTS

President of the Mess

Toast: "Ladies and Gentlemen, a toast to the Colors" Response: "To the Colors" Toast: "To the Commander-In-Chief, the President of the United States" Response: "To the President"

Mister or Madam Vice (As requested by the President)

Toast: "Ladies and Gentlemen, a toast to the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force" Response: "To the Chief of Staff" Toast: "To the Chief of Staff, United States Army" Response: "To the Chief of Staff" Toast: "To the Chief of Naval Operations" Response: "To the Chief of Naval Operations" Toast: "To the Commandant of the Marines Corps" Response: "To the Commandant" Toast: "To our Distinguished Guests" Response: "To the Guests"

Senior Enlisted Member of the Mess (As requested by Mister or Madam Vice)

Toast: "Ladies and Gentlemen, a toast to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force" Response: "Here, Here" Toast: "To our Guest Speaker" Response: "Here, Here"

INFORMAL TOASTS

At any time after the formal toasts a member may ask to be recognized for any appropriate reason. The member will stand and ask to be recognized by saying: "Mr President, I have a point of order". After recognition by the President, the member will in a polite and forthright manner advise Mr. President of his/her request. Response to informal toasts and all future toasts is "Here, Hear".

Members of the Mess will adhere to all rules of protocol and will render appropriate courtesy as required by the circumstances of the Mess.

All personnel will conform to military standards as outlined in prescribed directives. Violations of the Rules of the Mess are brought to the attention of the President, through Mister or Madam Vice. If such gross violation of the Rules of the Mess are brought to the attention of the President, and are determined to be valid, and not petty accusations, an appropriate trip to the grog bowl will be levied by the President who is the sole judge and jury as to who shall be required to drink the Grog.

Violations of the Rules of the Mess may be identified at any time subsequent to the seating of the Mess and prior to intermission as declared by the President of the Mess.

An escort will accompany his/her guest when necessary to leave and re-enter the Mess. Escorts are responsible for the actions of their guests.

It is said that the Grog originated in medieval England at the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Legend has it that the bowl was present only at social functions of the greatest importance. And that indeed, the table was round so each of Arthur's knights were equidistant from the potent brew.

In those times it was quite an ordeal for a knight to rise from his seat and partake of the wondrous mixture due to the weight of his suit of armor. it became a true challenge to rise, drink, and sit again. As a result, King Arthur ruled that this ordeal be reserved as punishment for the knave who was out of order or unruly.

The tradition has carried over through the years and is now an integral part of the Air Force Dining-In.

GROG BOWL PROCEDURES

When the President directs a violator to the grog bowl, the individual proceeds promptly. Upon arriving at the grog bowl, the violator does the following:

Stops one pace from and centered on the Grog Bowl

Does an about face and salutes the President

Does an about face and salutes the Grog and then fills the cup

Does an about face Toasts the Mess by raising the cup and saying "To the Mess"

Drains the entire contents of the cup without removing it from the lips

Turns the empty cup upside down over the top of their head

Does an about face and replaces the cup

Does an about face, salutes the President, and returns to his/her chair

With the exception of the toast, the violator is not permitted to speak during this process. Omissions of any of the above steps may demand a repetition of the entire procedure by the President of the Mess.

GROG BOWL DITTY