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My first Dining Out experience

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  At nine months pregnant I was not looking forward to getting dressed in semi-formal attire to attend the Air Force Sergeants Association Interservice Enlisted Dining Out; however, I felt it would be an opportunity I could benefit from, so I got dressed up and went. 

Now I am glad that I went because I experienced an evening like no other that made me remember why I wanted to serve my country. 

As I entered the Scott Club Friday night I was presented with rules, and I knew right away this was not going to be an ordinary night. 

The event began with formalities of posting the colors and other traditional military customs, but members of the mess tapped their spoons on the table instead of clapping, which something that I still have the impulse to do now. 

Throughout the dinner I learned to be on my toes to avoid a trip to the grog bowl which came in the form of a toilet bowl. The grog bowl is a concoction that a member of each branch of service contributed a choice of beverage to, making it quite the distasteful brew. If anyone was caught breaking the rules, such as talking about work during the dinner or quibbling, they were sent to grog bowl where they would have to drink the creation and then place the cup on top of their head to prove it was empty. 

What I enjoyed the most though was being with members from every branch of service. We all sang each other's service songs and realized some differences in our customs and courtesies such as Sailors not saluting indoors. Working with other Airmen I do not always have the chance to dine with sister servicemembers, but it was nice to participate in dining-out traditions which date back to medieval times. The mess was also honored to have six former prisoners of war among us who were very proud of their service and our military's heritage. 

The highlight of the night was Army Command Sgt. Major Tomás Hawkins, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, who was the guest speaker. 

His message to the mess was that whether we are active duty, Reserve, Guard, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen or civilian, we all serve together. If the Air Force has a problem, its not just the Airmen, all of the servicemembers have a problem. 

Leaving the dining out, I was proud, not just to be an Airman, but to be a part of United States Armed Forces. Although it can be tedious getting my uniform squared away, or intimidating as a young Airmen to be among senior enlisted members, it was definitely worth attending the dining out.