What is an Army dining out? Dining-In: a formal military dinner for the officers of a unit with a set agenda. Dining-Out: a dining-in to which spouses and guests are invited. Often leaves out the pranks and other traditional elements.
What is the purpose of dining out in the military?
They are what make this mission possible and, in turn, make this base's story possible." The purpose of a dining-out is to enhance the esprit of units, lighten the load of demanding day-to-day work, give the commander an opportunity to meet socially with subordinates and enable military members of all ranks to create bonds of camaraderie.
Does the Air Force have dining in or dining out?
Air Force Dining-in-Dining Out Planning Guide. 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. As with most ancient traditions, the origin of the dining-in is not clear.
What is the dress code for dining out in the military?
Conse- quently, whenever possible, personnel support- ing the dining-in or dining-out should wear the Army Blue uniform, with bow tie, or the Army Green with white shirt and black bow tie.
What is a dining-in or dining out menu?
Dining-ins or dining-outs are meant to be dignified and formal occasions. They should not be cold or portentous events. Emphasis is placed on the careful preparation of the most delicious food possible. The written menu should contain the name of the organization, the date, time, and location, and the food being served.
What is a dining out in the military?
The purpose of a dining-out is to enhance the esprit of units, lighten the load of demanding day-to-day work, give the commander an opportunity to meet socially with subordinates and enable military members of all ranks to create bonds of camaraderie.
What is the difference between dining-in and dining out military?
Dining-In: a formal military dinner for the officers of a unit with a set agenda. Considered obligatory. Dining-Out: a dining-in to which spouses and guests are invited. Often leaves out the pranks and other traditional elements.
What should I wear to Army dining out?
The formality of the occasion should be maintained even for support personnel. Conse- quently, whenever possible, personnel support- ing the dining-in or dining-out should wear the Army Blue uniform, with bow tie, or the Army Green with white shirt and black bow tie.
What to wear to ROTC Dining Out?
For enlisted members, mess dress or the semi-formal dress uniform is worn. For retired enlisted personnel, the mess dress, semi-formal dress, or civilian attire is appropriate. Male civilians should wear appropriate black tie dinner dress.
What is the meaning of dining out?
Definition of dine out intransitive verb. : to eat a meal away from home. dine out on. : to use as a subject for dining table conversation.
What do soldiers call dinner?
The United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Air Force refer to this event as a dining in or dining-in. The United States Marine Corps refers to it as mess night. Other names include regimental dinner, guest night, formal mess dinner, and band night.
How long do military balls last?
Smith and I'm Petty Officer Smith.” The receiving line is typically short and lasts for about 30 minutes. Here are a couple of pro-tips that will keep you from offending others in the receiving line: First, keep your hands free of drinks, food or cigarettes.
How often are military balls?
once a yearAt least once a year each military branch hosts a formal military ball in which spouses can attend. It's an exciting time for military communities to get together, but often times, spouses get anxious about what to expect as they honorably represent their service member.
What does a toast mean in military?
a gesture of honorA toast is a gesture of honor proposed to a person or organization (such as the President of the United States or the United States Air Force) prior to, during, or at the conclusion of a meal.
Are military balls mandatory?
Military balls are not typically mandatory, but attendance is strongly encouraged. For example, Marines who skip the Marine Corps Ball may receive unsavory work details. Service members who are eligible to attend the ball are also allowed to invite one guest. However, some units provide flexibility with this rule.
Can female soldiers wear dresses to military balls?
Most military balls are considered formal, white tie events. That means your service member will be wearing his or her dressiest uniform. Female military spouses and dates should wear formal dresses either floor-length or no shorter than just below the knee.
Who gets invited to military balls?
A military ball is an opportunity to bring everyone together to celebrate their service and to have some fun at the same time. Those who serve in the military receive an invite, and each service member may bring one guest. Also, the guest can be a date, a spouse, or a girlfriend/boyfriend.
What is teasing at a dining out?
Teasing. Often referred to as limericks, there’s a tradition of good-natured teasing that’s appropriate at a Dining Out that wouldn’t be appropriate at a ball. This is when all the inside jokes come out. Nothing that would be personally detrimental or could reflect negatively on someone’s career is shared.
What is the grog bowl?
Grog Bowl. There will be plenty of drinking at a Dining Out. From the cocktail hour to toasts to culminating with the Grog Bowl. Traditionally, the grog begins with some of the previous event’s concoction, saved for this very moment.
What is a toast?
Toasts. If you’ve attended a formal event before, you’re familiar with toasts. Toasts are made to an institution or office — not an individual — and they’re always rehearsed and planned carefully. Follow the people around you: if they stand, you stand; where they look, you look.
Can you go through the receiving line with a drink in your hand?
No drinks – you cannot go through the receiving line with a drink in your hand. You can usually find tables nearby for this reason. Skip the first person – kind of. The first person is not part of the official party and is there to introduce you to the host. Don’t shake their hand.
What is the tradition of a head table?
Tradition requires use of a head or speaker's table. The presiding officer, President of the Mess, sits in the center with the most distinguished guest at his right. The next most distinguished guest is on his left, and so alternately across the head table until all are accounted for in order of relative rank or importance. It is customary for all guests to sit at one table.
What is a toast?
Toasts are a traditional element of the dining-in and dining-out. They also may be incorporated into other celebrations. More often than not, toasts using wine occur after dinner, but toasts early in the program are appropriate. Planners must decide in advance the subject of each toast and the person who will present it. The toasts should be practiced before the celebration so each presenter knows when and how to give his particular toast. The presenter can be anybody in the unit, but a junior officer often is asked to give at least one toast. Toasts may be made to the President of the United States, the United States Army, the division, the regiment and the unit.
Is dining out the same as dining in?
In modern parlance, the dining-out is quite similar to the dining-in. The only difference is spouses are included. The dining-out is a formal affair, and strict rules of conduct still apply.
Do celebrants have to sit at the table?
Although there will be place cards on every table, celebrants should consult the seating plan in the cocktail areas before entering the dining room. Having reached the dining area, each celebrant should stand behind his or her chair. The President of the Mess will instruct the mess when to be seated.
What is the purpose of a dining in?
The purpose of the dining-in could be to recognize individual and/or unit achievements or any events which are effective in building and maintaining esprit de corps to include saying farewell to departing officers and welcoming new ones. The dining-in may also be held to honor one or more distinguished visitors. Whatever it is, the purpose will have a definite impact on determining the conduct of the dining-in. If, for example, the purpose is to honor a foreign dignitary, the sequence of events for the dining-in would be substantially different from a dining-in that involves the presentation of unit, company or individual awards. Whatever the purpose, the president of the mess, usually the commander or his/her deputy, has a great deal of latitude as to how the proceeding is conducted.
What is the formal portion of dining in?
The formal portion of the dining-in commences with chimes being sounded and the president, guests, and attendees moving to their respective table assignments.
Where are flags displayed at a dining room?
At the dining-in, all flags are initially displayed to the rear of the receiving line . The “flag line” is arranged in order of precedence with the flag of the United States at the right of the receiving line (the observer’s left). Upon completion of the receiving line, the officer in charge of the color guard will cause the flags, except those to be posted by the color guard, to be moved to the rear of the head table in the dining room. Colors to be posted by the color guard are (1) United States colors, (2) United States Army flag, (3) organizational colors in descending order of precedence.
Is dining in a formal affair?
The dining-in is always a formal affair for all offices, male and female, in the unit and invitations are extended accordingly. All unit personnel invited are expected to attend unless cogent reasons prohibit.
Do military organizations pay tribute to their fallen comrades?
Most military organizations customarily pay tribute to their fallen comrades at some point during the dining-in. There are many ways this can be achieved with the more commonly used ones listed below.
What is the military dinner called?
In the Air Force and Navy, it is known as the dining-in, while in the Army it's called the Regimental Dinner. In the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, they call it Mess Night . The dining-in has served the Air Force well as an occasion for military members ...
What is an arrangement officer?
The arrangements officer is directly responsible to the commander for the comprehensive planning of the dining-in and for attending to the numerous details required for a successful event.
