Mess A mess ( also called a messdeck aboard ships ) is an area where military personnel socialize , eat , and ( in some cases ) live . In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces . The root of " mess " is the Old French " mes " , " portion of food " ( cf . modern French " mets " ) , drawn from the Latin verb " mittere " , meaning " to send " and " to put " ( cf . modern French " mettre " ) , the original sense being " a course of a meal put on the table " . This sense of " mess " , which appeared in English in the 13th century , was often used for cooked or liquid dishes in particular , as in the " mess of pottage " ( porridge or soup ) . By the 15th century , a group of people who ate together was also called a " mess " , and it is this sense that persists in the " mess halls " of the modern military . Canada . Messing in the Canadian Forces generally follows the British model ( see United Kingdom below ) , from whom most traditions have descended . Basic regulations regarding the establishment and administration of messes is contained in the Queen ' s Regulations and Orders and the Canadian Forces Administrative Orders . As in the British Forces , there are normally three messes : the Officers ' Mess ( called the Wardroom in Naval establishments ) , for commissioned officers and officer cadet s ; the Warrant Officers ' and Sergeants ' Mess ( Navy : Chiefs ' and Petty Officers ' Mess ) , for senior non - commissioned officers and warrant officers ; and the Junior Ranks Mess , for junior non - commissioned officers , private s , and seamen . Some bases , such as CFB Kingston in the 1980s , had a Master Corporal s ' Mess separate from the Junior Ranks ' ; all of these , with the exception of the CFB Valcartier Master Corporals mess ( known as the " Mess des chefs " ) , have since been amalgamated with the Junior Ranks ' Messes . Certain other bases , mainly training establishments such HMCS Venture have messes known as the Gun Room for the use of subordinate officers ( Naval or Officer Cadets ) . Most bases and stations have three messes ( Officers ' , Warrant Officers ' and Sergeants ' , and Junior Ranks ' ) . Many of these establishments have lodger units ( such as air squadrons , army regiments , etc . ) who also have their own messes . All of Her Majesty ' s Canadian Ships have three messes aboard ; this extends to Naval Reserve Divisions and other Naval shore establishments which bear the title HMCS ( see stone frigate ) . Due to limited budgets and declining revenues , many messes have been forced to close or amalgamate : for example , at CFS St . John ' s , the Junior Ranks ' Mess of the Newfoundland Militia District closed , its members moving to the Station ' s Junior Ranks ' ; the Station ' s Officers ' Mess and Warrant Officers ' and Sergeants ' Mess later amalgamated . Headgear is not worn in Canadian Messes , except : All Canadian Forces personnel , Regular and Reserve , must belong to a mess , and are termed " ordinary members " of their particular mess . Although normally on Federal property , messes have been ordered to comply with the legal drinking age laws of their province ; for example , an 18 - year - old soldier may legally consume alcohol in a Quebec mess , but not in one in Ontario , where the legal age is 19 . However , despite being underage , the soldier may not be prohibited " entry " into the mess . Canadian Forces personnel are normally welcome in any mess of their appropriate rank group , regardless of element ; thus a Regimental Sergeant - Major of an Infantry battalion is welcome in a Chiefs ' and Petty Officers ' Mess ( inter - service rivalries notwithstanding ) . Personnel of a different rank ( except as noted below ) must ask for permission to enter ; that may be granted by the President of the Mess Committee , his designate , or the senior member present . These restrictions are normally waived on certain special occasions , when the messes are " opened " to all personnel , regardless of rank . These occasions may include ( and will be locally published by the Mess Committee ) : The Commanding Officer of the establishment or unit that owns the mess is permitted access to all his messes ; thus a ship ' s captain has access to his vessel ' s Chiefs ' and Petty Officers ' Mess , the Commanding Officer of a regiment may enter any of his regimental messes , and the Base Commander of a Canadian Forces Base is welcome in any of his base ' s messes . In practice , Commanding Officers rarely enter anything other than the Officers ' Mess unless invited , as a point of etiquette . In addition , duty personnel — such as a Duty NCO or Officer of the Watch — or the Military Police have access to any and all messes for the purposes of maintaining good order and discipline . Chaplains are usually welcomed in all messes . As in the UK , Canadian messes are run by the Mess Committee , a group democratically elected by the members of the mess . One exception is on warships , where the president of the junior ranks mess is appointed by the Commanding Officer . The Committee members are generally the same as those of their British counterparts , with the addition of special representatives for such things as sports , housing , morale , etc . These positions are normally spelled out in the mess constitution , which sets out the bylaws , regulations , and guidelines for such things as conduct of mess meetings , associate memberships , dress regulations within the mess , or booking of the mess by civilian organizations . The constitution and any amendments are voted upon by the members of the mess . Germany . The Federal German Armed Forces ( " Bundeswehr " ) differentiates between three different mess areas . 1 . HBG ( " Heimbetriebsgesellschaft " ) - More commonly called Enlisted Mess ( " Mannschaftsheim " ) , it is common for most bases to have one , where food and drink can be purchased , as well as newspapers and in some cases equipment and souvenirs ( such as key chains etc . , ) . There is generally no strict regulation of conduct , even though access is not limited to enlisted personnel , and NCOs or Officers may also be present , ensuring a more regulated conduct . 2 . UHG ( Noncommissioned Officers ' Mess / " Unteroffizierheimgesellschaft " ( " Gesellschaft " lit . Society ) ) - Also called UK ( NCO Comradeship / " Unteroffizierkameradschaft " ) , this is the area where NCO can dine or spend their evenings . As opposed to the HBG , the UHG has a constitution , bylaws and a board . Access is usually restricted to NCOs , while Officers can gain entry , even though it is usually frowned upon by the NCO . Some Bases have a joint NCO and Officer ' s Mess . - 3 . OHG ( Officers ' Mess / " Offizierheimgesellschaft " ) - Also called Casino ( " Kasino " or " Offizierkasino " ) . Much like the UHG , the Kasino also has a constitution , bylaws and a board . Gentlemanly conduct is mandatory . For instance upon entering the main hall , Officers are expected to stand at attention and perform a small bow . Additionally veteran ' s meeting are usually held either in a UHG or in a Kasino . As with the UHG , Kasinos have permanent personnel , as a general rule enlisted men , called " Ordonnanzen " ( Military term for waiter or barman ) . Some ' Kasinos ' have grand pianos , and hold recitals , as well as having music played during luncheons or dinners . Usually , official events , such also balls , but also unofficial events such as weddings , informational events and the like are held here . The German Navy call their messes ' Messe ' , with the distinction " Offiziermesse " . The Land based messes are also called " Offiziermesse " . India . The Indian Army follows a system similar to the British . A typical regiment / unit would have three messes , one for the commissioned officers , one for the Junior Commissioned Officers ( JCO ) and one for the NCOs . Havildars / Daffadars ( equivalent to Sergeants ) are considered to be NCOs . The Air Force , however has an SNCO ( Sr . NCO ) mess for Warrant Officers and Sergeants , while lower - ranking NCOs would be members of the NCO ' s mess . In the officer ' s mess and the JCO ' s mess , there also is rank of Mess Havildar . A Mess Havildar is a senior NCO who manages and executes the day - to - day activities of the mess . On Republic Day ( Jan 26 ) the JCOs are formally invited for cocktails at the Officers mess . This is reciprocated on Independence Day ( Aug 15 ) by the JCOs at the JCOs Mess . Israel . Navy . In the Israeli Navy , although Hebrew speaking , dining rooms on the Missile Boats , Dolphin submarines , and the kitchen in the Patrol Boats are named Messes , Crew Mess and Officers ' Mess . Also , every special meal brought by a crewmember , say celebrating a birthday or a rank promotion , is called Mess . United Kingdom . On a naval or military establishment there are usually two or three Messes : Officers and SNCOs are required under Queen ' s Regulations to be a member of a mess and unmarried members usually live , eat , and socialise in them . The JNCOs mess if established is normally used for socialising only , JNCOs usually being accommodated in barrack blocks eating in the cookhouse alongside private soldiers and able rates . Depending on circumstance , such as lack of finance or space , some regiments may have a JNCO " club " instead of a proper mess . Members of their mess are also required to pay a subscription fee for supplies and upkeep . The amount is decided upon by the commanding officer within the limits stipulated by the Regulations . Soldiers , sailors or air personnel are welcome in any Mess for their rank or equivalent , should they be away from their home unit , as long as they are paying dues in at least one mess . For the Warrant Officers ' and Sergeants ' Mess the highest ranking ( normally the RSM ) member is known as the Presiding Member . A Mess is run by the Mess Committee , a group democratically elected by the members of the Mess ( except Wardrooms ) , but normally agreed by the CO or RSM . Some messes also have a Senior Living - In Member ( SLIM ) who represents the living - in members and supervises their conduct . The Commanding Officer ( CO ) of the unit has right of veto over the mess , and any changes or events must have his approval . The CO is allowed into any Mess ( because they are legally all his ) , but it is often considered an abuse of power , unbecoming conduct or disturbing the order for a CO to drink in a lower rank mess , except when invited on special occasions . The Officers ' Mess in a Royal Navy ship or base is called the Wardroom . Associated with the Wardoom is a Gunroom , the mess for Midshipmen and occasionally junior Sub - Lieutenant s . The Captain of a vessel is not normally a member of the Wardroom , which is always run by the First Lieutenant or Executive Officer ( XO ) , thereby known as the Mess President ( " Mess Prez " ) . This post is part of the job of being a ship ' s XO . Other committee members are generally appointed ( voluntarily or otherwise ) by the XO . Mess dress is the military term for the formal evening dress worn in the mess or at other formal occasions . It is also known as mess kit . Mess dress would be worn at occasions requiring white tie or black tie . United States . U . S . Army . In the United States Army , officers historically have had to purchase their own food using funds allocated to each officer . In the far - flung forts of the American Old West , officers would organize their food service in two ways : a " Closed Mess " was when the few officers of a small fort would pool all of their food funds to provide all meals to members only , thus being " closed " to outsiders except as guests ; in a larger post , the larger pool of officers could allow the officers to purchase meals on an individual meal basis ( after payment of a small monthly dues amount ) . Such arrangements were called " Open Messes " . The mess now is called a " dining facility " ( DFAC ) . The Officers ' Club ( " O Club " ) is an outgrowth comparable to the Officers ' Open Mess , but also providing areas to allow officers to entertain guests . A similar version for enlisted personnel is the " E Club " . " Mess " also describes the formal affair of having a " dining in " , held for military members and closed to the public , or a " dining out " , a social event for military personnel and their families . U . S . Navy . At most United States Navy shore installations , galleys ( previously called Enlisted Dining Facilities in the 1970s and early 1980s ) provide messing for sailors ashore and as an option for sailors aboard ships while in port at those installations . Ashore , Enlisted Clubs for sailors in the grade of Petty Officer First Class ( E - 6 ) and below ; Chief Petty Officer Clubs for CPOs ( E - 7 ) , SCPO s ( E - 8 ) and MCPO s ( E - 9 ) ; and officers clubs for commissioned officers also exist , although many have been closed , merged into combination Enlisted / CPO , or converted into " all hands " facilities following the end of DoD budgetary subsidies for all such clubs in the 1990s and the subsequent need for these clubs to be financially self - sufficient . Further impacting the Navy is the fact that most naval units deploy for extended periods on a regular basis with , especially for shipboard personnel , concurrent membership in a ship ' s CPO Mess or officers ' wardroom . At sea aboard naval vessels , messing is still separate , with E - 6 and below utilizing the ship ' s mess deck s , E - 7 through E - 9 utilizing the ship ' s CPO Mess , and commissioned officers being part of the wardroom . Many ships also include a First Class Mess for E - 6 . This is considered a chance for future CPOs to learn how to be a part of a mess before they enter the " goat locker . " Enlisted personnel normally receive all meals at what appears to be no cost , but in fact subsidize their meals through forfeiture of their Basic Allowance for Subsistence ( BAS ) , also called " commuted rations , " although Chief Petty Officers may also have a mess " buy in " and / or monthly mess bill equivalent to the BAS . Officers retain their BAS , but pay for all meals out of pocket . This usually entails a mess " buy in " as a member of the officers ' mess and will typically have either a monthly mess bill or will purchase meals via some sort of debit card . U . S . Air Force . Social clubs on United States Air Force installations were at one time called Open Messes , even though most were known in vernacular as Officers Clubs or NCO clubs . Those for officers were able to utilize their initials as colorful acronyms , among the more well - known of which in the 1960s and 1970s were Zaragosa and Zweibrücken ( ZOOM ) , Danang ( DOOM ) , Ramstein ( ROOM ) , and Korat Air Bases or Kirtland Air Force Base ( KABOOM ) , Randolph AFB ( Auger Inn ) and Nellis AFB ( Robin ' s Nest ) , with the nicknames usually ascribed to those facilities ' casual bars versus the entire club . At one time , each squadron had its club , but these disappeared after World War II and the club became a facility of a base rather than a unit . Most are now officially referred to as officer or enlisted clubs ; the term " mess " or " officers ' open mess having largely disappeared from the Air Force lexicon . Though a few bases ( usually major training bases ) have separate Airmen ' s Clubs for junior enlisted and NCO Clubs for noncommissioned officers , this is no longer normally the case . Physically separate Officers ' Clubs are still the norm ; however , smaller Air Force installations may have one consolidated club with separate lounges . Membership is voluntary , though highly encouraged for senior NCOs and officers . Most NCO and Officers Clubs contain a sit - down restaurant in addition to social lounges , meeting / dining rooms , and bars . Mess halls in the USAF , where unmarried junior enlisted residing in the dormitories are expected to eat , are officially referred to as " dining facilities , " but are colloquially called " chow halls , " although dining facility workers traditionally take offense at the term . U . S . Marine Corps . In the United States Marine Corps , enlisted dining facilities ashore are commonly referred to as ' galleys ' or ' chow halls . ' When embarked aboard naval vessels , enlisted Marines and NCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant ( E - 6 ) and below will use the same mess deck s as sailors in the grade of Petty Officer First Class ( E - 6 ) and below , while Staff NCOs in the rank of Gunnery Sergeant ( E - 7 ) and above will take meals in the Chief Petty Officers ( CPO ) Mess . Separate enlisted , NCO and officers clubs continue to exist Marine Corps at shore installations , following the Navy model of enlisted , CPO and officers clubs . U . S . Coast Guard . The United States Coast Guard follows the US Navy model in terms of messing facilities afloat and ashore in terms of the demarcation of galleys for E - 6 and below , CPO Messes for E - 7 through E - 9 , and wardroom s for commissioned officers . The only exception is that , given its small size , there are very few Coast Guard clubs aboard Coast Guard installations and those that do exist are typically " all hands " facilities .