Dining in Dining in is a formal military ceremony for members of a company or other unit , which includes a dinner , drinking , and other events to foster camaraderie and " esprit de corps " . The United States Army , the United States Navy the United States Coast Guard and the United States Air Force refer to this event as a dining in or dining - in . The United States Marine Corps refers to it as mess night . Other names include regimental dinner , guest night , formal mess dinner , and band night . The dining in is a formal event for all unit members , male and female ; though some specialized mess nights can be officer - or enlisted - only . The unit chaplain is usually also invited , if an invocation is needed . A unit ' s dining - in consists of only the members of the unit , with the possible exception of the guest ( s ) of honor . An optional formal dinner , known as the dining - out may include spouses and other guests . The dining - out follows the same basic rules of the dining - in , but is often tailored to minimize some of the military traditions and be more interesting to civilian guests . " Except for the annual celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday , no social function associated with the smaller of America ' s naval services is more enjoyed , admired and imitated than the mess night . " ( LtCol Merrill L . , USMC ( Ret . ) ) History . The practice of dining in is thought to have formally begun in 16th - century England , in monasteries and universities ; though some records indicate that militaries have held formal dinners as far back as the Roman Legion s . The Vikings held formal ceremonies to honor and celebrate battles and heroes . During the 18th century , the British Army incorporated the practice of formal dining into their regiment al mess system . Customs and rules of the mess were soon institutionalized rules , known as the " Queen ' s Regulations " . The mess night or " Dining in " became a tradition in all British regiments . The Americans , taking many of their traditions from the British military , held mess nights in the 18th and 19th century , but the tradition waned after the Civil War . During World War II , the custom was revived in the U . S . military , initially in the US Army Air Forces 8th Air Force , which was based in Britain . AAF Officers were invited to participate in host British military Mess Nights and then were obligated to reciprocate . Dining in took a temporary halt in the Navy and Marine Corps when Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels imposed prohibition of alcoholic drink , but soon the tradition was restored . British traditions . Army . By the late 18th century , the British Army ' s " mess night " developed formal rules , as a result of troops being stationed in remote areas . Officers elected mess committees to conduct their meals . The officers were expected to adhere to the rigid etiquette of Victorian - era society . In modern times it is sometimes known as a " regimental dinner " . Royal Navy and Royal Marines . Royal Navy officers have the privilege of remaining seated when toasting the Sovereign . Some sources state that this privilege was granted by William IV . A popular story states that Charles II was on board his namesake ship " Royal Charles " and had bumped his head on the low overhead of the wardroom when he stood up to reply a toast that had been drunk to him . He stated that henceforth , naval officers would never again rise to toast a British sovereign . In 1964 , Queen Elizabeth II extended the privilege to the Royal Marines in honour of their 300th anniversary . The custom of " dining in " to welcome new officers and " dining out " to farewell retiring officers originated with the British , although the term came about much later . It has been discontinued in some countries such as the United States but is still practiced by the Royal Navy . Royal Air Force . The Royal Air Force inherited many mess traditions from the British Army as a former corps . These customs were notably passed on the US Army Air Corps during World War II as British and American crew served alongside one another in close quarters . U . S . traditions . Portions of the event tend to become quite humorous in nature , while others remain somber . Etiquette requires a diner to know what is appropriate at any given time . The dining in follows established protocols . After a brief cocktail period of 30 to 45 minutes , the presiding officer , known as the " President of the Mess " , announces , " Please be seated . " The group will then retire to the dining area to be seated . After tasting the meat ( usually beef ) , the President will declare it " tasty and fit for human consumption " , after which the meal will be served to the diners . After the dessert is finished , the President will invite the chief steward to bring forth wine and / or punch to be served , and toasting will begin . After the toasts have concluded , the floor will be opened to the levying of fines . The president and the guest of honor will have the opportunity to speak if they so desire . After this , the mess is often then returned to an open cocktail hour , and then the evening concludes with final honors . Formal toasts . Formal toasts are the heart of the formal dining in . A junior officer , known as " Mr Vice " , proposes a toast to the guests , at which the guests remain seated . After this , various parties will offer toasts to the Commander in Chief , to the heads of state of a visiting or host nations , to their branch of service , to the units , and to the fallen members of the military . Notice that the United States does not have a king , queen , or Prime Minister , and that the commander in chief and President are the same person . The final and most solemn toast is always to fallen comrades . Often this tribute is marked with a table setting dedicated to those military members killed , captured , or missing in action . Some unusual forms of toasting are common to the U . S . and Canadian traditions . In the Toronto Scottish Regiment , for example , a loyal toast to the regiment ' s colonel - in - chief is performed standing with one foot on the chair and one foot on the dining table , facing a portrait of the C - in - C and drinking after the piper has played . Others , particularly Scottish regiments , perform toasts in the same way with one foot on a chair and one on the table . This is a frequent form of toasting in the United States Marine Corps as well . In the Scottish form , the glass is raised , lowered , brought out , and brought in , as the words of the toast , usually including some form of " Up " , " Down " , " To you " , " To me " , are recited , and finally drunk to the cry " Drink it up ! " or similar . Violations of etiquette and other traditions . Violations of the formal etiquette of the dining in are " punished " , generally with fines . The following are considered " Violations of the Mess " : At some mess nights , violators of the mess are obliged to publicly drink from a grog bowl in front of the mess attendees . The grog is sometimes contained in a toilet bowl , consisting of various alcoholic beverages mixed together . As a more disgusting effect , the grog may also contain floating solids , such as meatballs , raw oysters , or Tootsie Rolls . The tradition of drinking grog originated with the British Navy . Grog consisted of the regulation rum ration diluted with water to discourage binge drinking . In modern times , grog comes in two varieties : alcoholic and non - alcoholic , the latter of which may contain anything that will make it less appealing to the taste , including hot sauce . For additional effect , the drinker may be required to drink from a boot . In addition to visiting the grog bowl and paying fines , violators may be sentenced to sing songs , tell jokes , do pushups , or perform menial tasks to entertain the mess . In most cases , when a violator has been identified , he or she is given the opportunity to provide a rebuttal or defense for the violation , which rarely results in the violator being excused for the offense , and usually only results in more punishment . Traditionally , all fines collected throughout the night are split amongst the stewards that served the attendees as a token of appreciation for their efforts . The fines can also be used to pay for the drinks consumed , while some units have used the Mess Night as a fund raiser ( often to pay for a ball ) . Members of the mess may also be singled out for some good - natured ribbing and teasing . In some units , members go out of their way to be picked on , often wearing obvious uniform violations , such as crowns , tiaras , eye - patches , bowties and cummerbunds of the wrong color , and other items that have no place on any military uniform . Some will attempt to leave sabotaging evidence on or around others they wish to see fined , so care must be taken to not be the butt of a joke . Navy and Marine traditions also include that no diner may leave the hall to use the restroom without permission until Mr . Vice suggests that the company " shed a tear for Lord Admiral Nelson " , a reference to the fact that his body was preserved in a barrel of brandy after his death at Trafalgar . Most Messes attempt to furnish the night with military music and marches , with live bands if possible , or recorded music . Depending on how formal the ceremony is , the diners may be required to march to their seats . In recent times , Marines have established a variant of the mess in a " field environment " , substituting in mess dress for utilities and combat equipment ( to include camouflage facepaint ) , canteen cups , and tentage , while still retaining the formal nature of the ceremony .