{ Dining in and take out }

Remember when Clinton when to the Dining in...the formal that I wasn't invited to...

Well while he was "Dining in" I was ordering pizza from our friendly Italy Pizza lady!

Anyways.....  these are some pictures of the evening's events!

I don't know for sure (because I wasn't there) but it looks like he's goofing off...

Clinton presented a special plate to the speaker of the evening. The speaker was from the American Embassy in Seoul :)

The man behind Clinton is the Battalion Commander 

Doesn't he just look like a stud

I'm told that the photo below is the mailroom past and present. Clinton worked in the mailroom for the first eight months he was in Korea, before he started the job he was really trained for. The guys in blue are the has-been mailroom workers and the guys in green are the current mailroomers.

The man on the far left next to clinton is our friend Nick Gowan

Military traditions are just so amusing. Growing up, I loved the show JAG and now I love the show NCIS. Both military based shows. I've just always been amazed with the whole military lifestyle, so it was fun for me to hear about Clinton's evening and what exactly went on.

First of all, there is the head table which was made up of five people; the Battalion Commander (Lieutenant Colonel), the Battalion XO (Major), Battalion S3 (Major), Battalion Command Sergeant Major, the Guest Speaker and his guest.

Mr. and Madame Vice are the MC's for the night and also enforce the "Mess Rules." The rules of the mess are e-mailed out before the event and are also listed in the evening's program.

From what I understand, the rules vary a little from event to event. This is an example of the rules at the Humphrey's Dining in that Clinton went to:

(I've highlighted some of my personal favorites :P)

Dining-In Protocol

General Rules: 

1. Thou shalt not be late. 

2. Thou shalt make every effort to meet all guests. 

3. Thou shalt move to the mess when thee hears the chimes and remain standing until seated by the President

.4. Thou shalt not bring drinks or lighted smoking materials to the mess. 

5. Thou shalt not leave the mess whilst convened. Military protocol overrides all calls of nature. 

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

7. Thou shalt ensure that thy glass is always charged while toasting. 

8. Thou shalt keep toasts and comments within the limits of good taste and mutual respect. However, good natured needling is encouraged. 

9. Thou shalt not murder the Queen’s English. 

10. Thou shalt not open the hanger doors (talk shop). 

11. Thou shalt always use proper toasting procedure. 

12. Thou shalt also be painfully regarded if thy clip-on bow tie rides at an obvious list. 

13. Thou shalt consume thy meal in a manner becoming gentlepersons. 

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

15. Thou shalt not overindulge thyself in alcoholic beverages. (Thou shalt not drink alcoholic beverages if underage.) 

16. Thou shalt not question the decisions of the President. 

17. When the mess opens or adjourns, thou shalt rise and wait for the members at the head table to take their places or depart. 

18. Thou shalt not begin eating a course of the meal before members of the head table. 

19. Thou shalt not talk whilst another member has the floor. 

20. Thou shalt not wear an ill-fitted or discolored mess jacket. 

21. Thou shalt enjoy thyself to the fullest.

Toasting Procedure: Toasts should be made as following: 

1. Stand and identify yourself 

2. Address the Vice by saying, “Mr. / Madam Vice, I would like to propose a toast”. The Vice informs the President of the mess and receives approval.

 3. Everyone stands, and the toast is given. 

4. Remember, good taste is always the order of the day. Toasts will occur mostly at the beginning of the Dining-In Each toast should be worded in the following manner: 

Toast proposal: “To the Commander-In-Chief” Mess response: “To the President” Toast proposal: “To the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force: Mess response: “To the Chief of Staff”

General Notes: After the toast to the Chief of Staff, the appropriate mess response to toasts is “Hear, Hear”. Once the Chief of Staff of the Air Force has been toasted, there should be a toast with water to all of our brothers-and-sisters-inarms who have served our country. It is also customary to propose toasts to special guests after they have been introduced. During this procedure, members of the mess stand and the guests remain seated. Also other toasts may be given in the form of a poem, verse, limerick or in another appropriate and creative fashion.Addressing the Mess A member may want to raise a point of order or identify infractions to the Mess. 

The proper way is as follows: 

1. Rise and state “Mr. / Madam Vice, a point of order” 

2. When recognized by the Vice, identify yourself and state your business. 

3. It is tradition to speak in rhyme when addressing the mess. It is up to the President of the Mess whether you must speak in rhyme; however, if you do not, you may have to take a trip to the grog bowl.

Infraction of the Mess A member may be punished for violating the rules of the Mess. A member may also be punished for something they might have done earlier in the semester, or for no reason other than the fact that someone wants to send them to the grog bowl. Punishment might include singing a song, telling a joke, being sent to the grog bowl, or some other activity determined by the President.

GROG BOWL 

The grog bowl contains a combination of different foods/drinks and may be unsavory looking, but it is not undrinkable. When sent to the grog bowl, one should do the following:

1. Proceed to the bowl in a military fashion, squaring all corners.

 2.Salute the grog. 

3.Fill the cup at least 1/3 full. 

4.Do an about face and toast the mess stating: “To the Mess!” 

5.Drain the grog from the cup without removing it from the lips. 

6.Tip the cup upside down over one’s head signifying it is empty. 

7.Do an about face, replace cup, salute the grog, and return to your seat. 

8.You may not talk during this process.

NOTE: Only uniformed members of the Mess may be sent to the grog bowl.

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I think those rules are interesting and kind of humorous. I searched online and found even more rules that can be used at a dining-in. Some are very detailed and even have certain regulations about the way the soldiers eat! As for the "grog," there are two different grog bowls. One bowl is alcoholic and the other non-alcoholic. Each section is responsible for bringing something to contribute to the grog bowl. For example: one section might bring Coke, while another section brings pickle juice.  The result is a conglomeration of random items all mixed together to make one disgusting drink!  A peanut butter filled diaper, Ramen, meat, Jello, a green sock, cool-aid, etc were all added in. Fortunately for Clinton, he never had to drink from the grog. Blah!