Dining Out

The Basics of Dining Out
Courtesy of C/Gryzb, posted with permission

Uniform for Dining Out is mess dress. For us, that simply means our service dress, but wearing a white button-up shirt with no buttons on the collar in place of our long-sleeved blue shirt.
During the meet and greet in the beginning, make an effort to meet as many of the guests as possible.

Once inside the mess, do not sit down until the head table has been seated.

As far as manners go beyond general decency, do not laugh unless the head table laughs, do not eat until the head table begins eating, do not go to the restroom one the mess is closed, and do not clap with your hands, simply bang your spoon against the table for applaud.

If you just so happen to be grogged, you will stand up and walk to the front of the room using facing movements, salute each of the Vices in turn, salute the grog bowl itself, fill your cup, perform an about-face, lift your cup toward the mess and say, “To the mess!”, drink the entirety of your glass, and then hold the glass upside down over your head as proof of completion.

However, if you are grogged, you are allowed a rebuttal or you can take a wingman with you up to the grog by first walking to that person and saluting them.

In order to grog somebody yourself, you must raise your hand and wait to be called on by the Vice. Once called on, you must stand up at attention and say “Mr. and Mrs. Vice, I C/ (your rank) (your full name) would like to make a point of order.”

If you are granted permission, you may then proceed to read your poem inviting your victim to take a drink from the grog bowl.

Most importantly, just follow the older cadets lead, don’t be scared, and HAVE FUN!