Dining Out 2022

This year we have a dining out committee making the arrangements.  The gala will be  August 13, at Chivaree on Park in Ixonia (see below).  Guests are $22 a person.  Please RSVP by the August 1st meeting. 

The Details

The Air Force Dining-In is believed to have originated with General Henry “Hap” Arnold at March Air force Base in 1930, but its origins are deeper than that. He was impressed with the British traditions of Mess rules, out of which evolved the formal Dining-In. Some of these customs were clearly intended to have a restraining influence upon the conduct of young and junior officers. It might have even been said that they were integrated as part of the “grooming” process for positions of responsibility in later years. In Britain, the formal Dining-In was a required function for officers of a given unit. While the dinner function follows prescribed rules, the latter part of thee evening is designed to further comradeship and esprit-de-corps. One of the prime rules of the Dining-In is tha t no matter what occurs, no word of it is spoken outside of the Dining-In. The Dining-In became an integral part of US Air Force tradition after World War II. It provides an occasion for officers to meet socially at a formal military function, as well as serve as an excellent way to say “farewell” and “hello.” It also provides a vehicle to recognize individual and unit achievement. Traditionally, it is a formal evening for Air Force officers designed to build and maintain esprit-de-corps. The Air Force further refined the tradition to include “Dining-Out.” This function opens up the Mess dinner to spouses and other non-unit members and allows them to be drawn into the inner circle of the group.

Dress is considered "Black Tie." Officers will be in mess dress, Enlisted (or Cadets) will wear mess dress or semi-formal dress uniforms. Some events will have a military band present, and as such, the diners may be ordered to march to their seats.  Ladies my wear formal gowns.

And there are other orders. (More to come)