Welfare, Recreation, and Morale Dining In

The exact origin of the Dining-In is not known, It is believed, however,
that the practice dates back to an old Viking tradition of holding
formal ceremonies to celebrate great battles and feats of heroism. These
ceremonies usually included a dinner of fine foods, drinks, and fellowship.
Later this custom spread to the monasteries, universities, and, eventually,
to the military ,officers' mess.1
During the early eighteenth century, the British Army incorporated the
practice of formal dining into their regimental mess system. Customs and
rules of the mess were soon institutionalized in the Queen's Regulations
that governed the actions and conduct of the British Army. The mess was a
home for the bachelor officers, a club for all officers, and the center of
social life at the military garrison. 2 An important feature of the mess
was mess night. Usually held once a week, it was a formal mandatory
gathering of the officers of the regiment, The purpose of the dinner was to
bring the officers together in a fraternal atmosphere and to make them aware
of the luxuries of life.3 The mess night or Dining-In became a tradition
in all British regiments.
The close association between the British and American armies during the
world wars led the United States Army to adopt the Dining-In as a part of
its social program.ll The practice flourished during World War II and
became a regular social function. Unfortunately, it is difficult to create
a tradition, and the Dining-In lost favor among U.S. Army units in the
postwar period. Moreover, the rapid turnover of officers in the American
Army made it difficult, if not impossible, to establish loyal ties ta a unit
and its traditions. These facts added to the decline of the Dining-In.5
Today, the Dining-In appears to be making a comeback in many Army units
and organizations. Senior commanders are again recognizing the value of the
Dining-In for building professionalism and esprit de corps among the young
officers. They recognize that the Dining-In is an ideal forum in which to
strengthen and perpetuate the spirit, professionalism, and soul of the Army.
The purpose of this reference book is to assist those who would help
spark a comeback for the Dining-In in the United States Army. It is intended
as a source document for officers planning a Dining-In or Dining-Out in
their units. It provides a brief history of the British and American regimental
messes, a detailed explanation of the standards and procedures for
conducting a Dining-In, and a short sketch of service etiquette as it
applies to formal dining. There are many other books and pamphlets an the
customs and traditions of the Army and service etiquette available to reinforce
the information contained in this booklet. The most important sources
are in the bibliography at the back of this book.