Dining in the Ward Room vs Enlisted Mess

[@stormycatmink]

This always struck me as a bit weird. I served in the US Army in 2008-9 on a deployment, and although still a junior officer, we ate with our enlisted men. Even the captain, major, or even the Col., would join us if not busy (usually invited in by others at the table if they spot him or her). Aside from sleeping, we did most everything side by side with our enlisted soldiers. Very different than the Navy.

[@steveo601]

Great displays! Keep it going. Ship is looking great!

[@jarvisfamily3837]

One point to be made - while food is provided (and is considered part of their pay) for enlisted crewmembers by the Navy, officers have to pay for their own food. When an officer reports aboard he has to buy into the officer's mess fund by buying a mess "share" - and when he departs the ship he gets the current value of a mess "share" which is payed out to him. Each month each member of the wardroom mess is presented his mess bill, which is an even division of the value of the rations purchased by the mess and served out. Every member of the mess is presented with his mess bill on payday so that funds are immediately available to pay it. Each day and at every meal, though, one of the junior officers - usually someone who's going up on watch while at sea, or someone who's in the duty section in port, has to "sample the mess" - meaning he goes down and eats what the crew eats. This is done as a quality control check on the galley. In my experience, the food served in the galley was always good, and I never had any complaints with what was served there. Best food I ever had in the Navy? We had a bake shop on our ship, and it generally cranked out uneventful baked goods - cakes from a mix, brownies, cookies - OK stuff, but nothing to write home about. Then one morning I was up on watch on the 4-8, and suddenly - what the heck am I smelling? CINNAMON ROLLS?!?!? The new mess specialist (cook) we'd just gotten on board was a culinary school graduate and had been assigned to the bake shop - and he decided to send up a tray of his first days' creations to "entertain" the bridge watch crew. And holy cow, that guy could bake! Well, he didn't last long in the galley - he was, in short order, moved up to the captain's galley to be the CO's personal cook, and his absence from the bake shop was noted sadly as the earlier less-than-stellar baked goods returned. But, oh - those cinnamon rolls..! :-)

[@phcusnret]

Naturally. Heaven forbid the captain put his crew first.

[@johnshepherd8687]

There is one exception to the rule that officers pay their mess bill. Martime Patrol Squadrons on deployment. Max Per Diem, baby!!!.

[@roberthilton5328]

Fresh bread from the Night Baker is bliss!

[@duanedragon2]

What a monstrously selfish captain.

[@dave623]

@@duanedragon2 that’s a really dumb thing to say

[@drinksnapple8997]

The Wardroom is for gentlemen, and in my own Frigate we behaved accordingly. During meals we had incredibly funny and entertaining conversations in which we would never tolerate any talk of (1) politics, (2) religion, (3) women, (4) kept all shop talk to a minimum, and (5) absolutely no swearing. We had great food, because we had great cooks who cooked food that WE purchased (the US Navy does not feed officers, we pay for our own food). We dressed in the proper uniform - clean, pressed khakis - because the "cranks" also dressed properly. We did not tolerate the aviators to wear flight suits to the Wardroom - a gentleman always dresses properly to dine. We also ate from china paid from our own mess funds. We paid for the maintenance of our Wardroom, purchased our own TV, VCR, game consoles, and stereo system. Paid for our own decorations, and always always picked up the tab on any visitors unless it was an official event and then the USN would refund the Wardroom for the cost. p.s. The USN requires that EACH AND EVERY meal in the mess decks must be sampled by an Officer along with an inspection of the cleanliness of the galley, mess area, and scullery. When it was my turn in the rotation, I would always sit down with the crew and eat with them (you got very good reviews on the quality of the meal along with valuable gossip upon which one could ascertain the morale of the men at the moment).

[@patrickfurlong9169]

Officer didn't sample food on the ship I was assigned by to, and I'm don't think it is was required. The Captain be would have unannounced meals in the enlisted mess every couple of weeks though especially at sea, and it better be good.

[@Wimpymind]

@@patrickfurlong9169 either model is quite adequate i would imagine. Psychologically speaking, random testing is perfectly fine.

[@LegioXIVGemina]

Lunch in the Wardroom. XO comes in after the worst haircut possible. Soup was coming from many a nostril, I can tell you.

[@arajoaina]

So only the officers are gentlemen and enlisted are just low class peasants huh. I think this kind of tradition is a deflection from old times when all the officers were nobility class and the enlisted were lowly peasants. This kind of difference is bad for morale and culture cohesion. It does not fit into fighting forces of democratic nations

[@andrews2990]

Lol you’re a dork.

[@MrBlueBurd0451]

My uncle was an enlisted man serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy for 25 years. During most of that time, he was serving under one particular officer, with whom he moved through multiple ships. They got to know each other very well, became fast friends despite being an officer and an enlisted man (which, as you may imagine, has an even greater traditional distance in old, traditionalist navies like the Dutch one), but once that officer had made it to CO of a ship, almost invariably, once every two weeks, my Uncle was invited up to the Captain's quarters to dine together. My uncle was basically his line into the enlisted morale and goings-on on the ship. A few years after my uncle mustered out, he was asked to be the godfather to one of the Captain's children.

[@johnslaughter5475]

I loved the enlisted mess. Nothing formal, you come in wearing whatever you work in. There's usually a bunch of good conversations going on. No, "Yes, Sir," "No, Sir." On a carrier, the mess decks were open 23 hours a day. They closed from 0100-0200 for complete cleaning. The coffee urns were always going. The drink dispensers were also always full, unless they were currently being cleaned. The lines were never very long, except on Thanksgiving. There were always people who complained, but I don't remember ever having a bad meal. I still like SOS to this day. Stouffer's makes Creamed Chipped Beef. Even my family likes it. My wife just can't accept that fried bologna is good to eat. She doesn't like Spam, either.

[@Colonel_Overkill]

Here in the Appalachian mountains we grew up on fried bologna, a classic always. Have to agree, spam is an abomination though.

[@Jreb1865]

Lol...Love fried baloney and I would kill for a fried spam sandwich, although cold spam isn't very appealing...

[@johnknapp952]

Most ships I've been on didn't allow wearing coveralls in the Mess, nor very dirty dungarees (or whatever the working uniform was). And chow time on the small boys was at most a couple hours and even when I was on the Kitty Hawk I don't think chow time was more than 3 hours. But it's been 30 years since I was on my last ship.

[@SSN515]

@@johnknapp952 On all my Tincans, we could eat chow in coveralls or dungarees as long as they weren't filthy. On the Midway, at sea, the aft chow line was open maybe 9 or 10 hours a day and we had a "speed line" up in forward bomb assembly that served burgers, fries, stuffed potatoes, chili dogs, and such in a little plastic basket which you ate standing up at stainless steel counters. That had about the same hours, but was only operating at sea.

[@resolute123]

Being a former Army officer, I'd say I'd prefer to have eaten in your enlisted mess. Seems too much formality just to eat. Get something in your system and get back to work. But it is your guys tradition so who am I to judge.

[@motor8654]

As a Marine, eating anywhere and anything that wasn't an MRE in the field was a treat. The Navy had good food and I was shocked that the Officers and Chiefs ate separate from the enlisted. I remember our Lt.Col would always eat last and the privates would eat first. Great leadership there, take care of the men and if chow ran out the senior guys went hungry not the junior guys. The problem with having good food is that it's too easy to get FAT, a big problem in the military and civilian world.

[@bthorn5035]

That's how it should be.

[@billmoran3812]

In the Coast Guard, it is similar with the ward room being the officers dining and meeting room. We generally wore only uniform of the day whether or not we were on watch and no silver dining service! But food was served and better china was used. Shoreside, there were similar facilities depending on the size of the facility. After my CG career, I once found myself working as a consulting engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I was invited by the Commandant to dine daily at the Officers Club which was quite nice. It was open to all naval officers both attached to the Shipyard and the submarines that were in the shipyard for maintenance.

[@nathanhelfinstine4922]

I served on a relatively modern major American warship, and there were actually FIVE different dining situations. There was the enlisted mess with the cafeteria-style dining, of course. There was the officer's wardroom like you mentioned, and the captain had his invitation-only dining room. But there was also the chief's mess, for the senior enlisted; I was told that the chief's mess was the best place to eat, as it has good quality food but lacks the cumbersome formality of the officers' dining options. And finally, there was the "flag mess" where the admiral ate; somewhat like the captain, he either ate alone or with specifically invited guests, often but not invariably inviting the captain. One of my buddies spent one cruise as a steward at the flag mess, and would occasionally bring us leftovers. The food from up there would not have been out-of-place at a decent restaurant.

[@drinksnapple8997]

The goat locker gets its food from the main mess. So they myth of the "quality" is a myth.

[@JM-lk6wo]

In my experience, the chiefs mess on a carrier has better quality meals than the wardroom, largely because there are more officers to feed than CPOs. Also, the chiefs are the ones doing the evaluation reports of the enlisted men, the messmen have an incentive to keep the chiefs well fed.

[@joesunshine4006]

@@drinksnapple8997 even if the food comes from the same stock, the cooks are. Making a lower quantity at a higher quality. They would also have the better cooks.

[@peterking8586]

I was Army, but HMS Fearless had come in to port, in Norway. Realizing there were Army in the area, we got invited to the PO mess. On the flight deck below the Royal Marines band played for local dignitaries. My boss (an Army major) had also been invited and was on the flight deck below, with the rabble. On my final day I told my boss that I too had been onboard that, but had the vantage of the POs mess.

[@OldNavyAirdale]

Whether the Admiral, Skipper, officers, or enlisted, the food was the exact same. Im not saying it wasn't cooked more carefully than the chow for the Enlisted, but they didnt eat steak and lobster everyday like some people think.

[@randallr.8394]

Much respect to you Mr.Ivey.Thank you for your loyal service sir.✊🏾

[@MrJento]

Speaking from 23 years as a commissioned officer on smaller vessels, meals were more than simply about eating. It was an opportunity for the XO or occasionally the CO to get information not usually available any other way. People relax when eating and conversations can drift to opinions. I encouraged “shop talk” within limits. We would discuss philosophical topics bearing upon the ships operations. One habit I had was asking the most junior officers to comment before their seniors. Ranking officers get the most to say at formal staff meetings. Many times junior officers are closer to the details of a particular situation, but feel that they can’t speak freely after a senior has expressed his opinion. Out of the mouths of babes comes much wisdom, they say. The wardroom is more than a mess hall. It is where visiting diplomatic personnel may be entertained. A Commissioned vessel is a floating bit of America that may be found anywhere in the world, and must behave accordingly. Thus a certain level of decorum is maintained in the wardroom so that the arrival of an ambassador for a formal lunch will not cause a shock to the ships officers. Leadership has its privilege. It also has its obligations. Most knowledgable enlisted would gladly forego the privilege in order to avoid the obligation. Just my opinion. Fox out.

[@OldNavyAirdale]

The last thing you said, is perfect.

[@BeKindToBirds]

It is interesting seeing the navy side of officer, still lots of pomp and ceremony but I suppose the nature of naval combat is going to keep that old timey tint around forever. I really can only conclude that the necessities of ground and forward units is what bred the very very different attitudes of the army, marine, and air force officers I have met from the surface navy officer life you describe. (A lot) Also I notice that the pomp seems to fade as you get closer to admiral and rub shoulders with the shore more, less insulated in the ward rooms. Really great first hand account you gave, and others in this thread. Cheers.

[@tomasthomas8563]

I remember when I was a logitech onboard uss midway, I was assigned to berth and eat in warrant officers country. I remember that the ship had 4 enlisted chow lines with 2 galleys on 2nd deck, officers had fwd, aft clean wardrooms on the gallerydeck plus a dirty wardrooms on 3rd deck aft, cpo had their own galley/mess on 2nd deck, and warrants had a galley/wardroom on 3rd deck amidships. C/o and flag officers shared a small galley but had different dining rooms on gallerydeck. C/o also had an underway pantry/kitchen up in the island with a dining room. Midway also had a butcher shop, bread bakery, cake shop, and a combined vegetable and fresh fruit prep room on 2nd deck. Prep for meals onboard Midway was a 24/7 job, and involved more than 200 sailors or marines to keep 5000 men fed.

[@Mark13tol]

I was a cook that started out serving in the wardroom on a cruiser. Was actually quite fun. I knew the officers quite well. We cleaned staterooms then also. Had the president of Djibouti on board for a formal dinner. That was the beginning of the diplomacy with them. I cooked in the wardroom galley, general mess, and did DCPO, Jack of the dust, mess deck master at arms, stood quarter deck watches as petty officer of the watch, and security force. Served on a few ships. So, I'd have to say, it was fun being a cook because we ate wherever we wanted pretty much, if we were cooking.

[@andrews2990]

They can’t even clean their own damn staterooms? Good lord…

[@kotori87gaming89]

On a submarine we have a similar split between Crew's Mess and the Officer's Wardroom. On weekends and holidays, the duty officer and the engineering duty officer (the only two officers onboard) often sneak into Crew's Mess for meals. Even though the food is exactly the same, they always prefer the less formal structure in Crew's Mess. I can't say I blame them - there are so many rules on how to eat, when to eat, who sits where, elbows, napkins, etc. The only rule we have on Crew's Mess is that if you're eating a banana, you use either both hands or no hands. Much easier to remember, and always entertaining.

[@rogueviking9268]

Only legends rock no hands.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

I'm glad my daddy taught me how to swallow a banana whole!

[@TigerDude333]

The rule on our boat was officers stayed out of the crew's mess - that was their space and we needed to respect it.

[@asasial1977]

@@TigerDude333 plenty of E6 and above to make it miserable enough, no need to add officers.

[@DrGeorgePBurdell-USN1701]

There were quite a few times that, as a Chaplain, I'd sneak off to the enlisted mess...you know, to do deckplate ministry and get the pulse of the crew....and to get a break from the wardroom formality. Fortunately, the wardroom is less formal in wartime, and during my time in for GWOT things were indeed somewhat less formal. Though during water restrictions on USCG cutters, we ate on Styrofoam plates in the wardroom!

[@holdmycoffee4470]

I went from enlisted, to Chief, to Chief Warrant Officer. So I had the opportunity to eat on the messdecks, in the Chief's mess and in the Wardroom. The Chiefs always had the best food.. Mostly because while they ate the same food as the messdecks, we purchased "extras". And when you were messcooking you absolutely wanted to be assigned to the Chiefs mess.

[@howardr222]

This brings back a lot of memories as an enlisted and later officer submarine sailor I saw both. The big difference between a battleship and a submarine is culture and lifestyle. The battleship alike most skimmers had meal times then the gallery was closed to enlisted while the officers go usually get a sandwich or coffee anytime. On the boats it different we had meal times but the galley was open if you wanted scrambled eggs between chow times you could make it yourself or if the MS was not to grumpy they would make it for you Officer or enlisted free soda bread sandwiches in the crews mess for the enlisted. As an officer I recall paying for three meals a day at sea regardless if I ate them or not. In port I only paid for the meals I ate. Plus Officer enlisted formally is much less. After I was Commissioned I still lived with my friends who were enlisted since I was not the lease and did not move more than 50 miles away could not break the lease. When my CO saw us arrive at work in the same car like 6 of us and myself being the only officer, I got called into his office after lunch and he wanted and explanation why I was in that car and we seemed to friendly. At the time I was going through Officer submarine school. I explained those guys were from my boat prior to Commissioning and we all were on the lease which I did not meet the military lease clause to break it. He said when is the lease up I said 4 more months, the CO said ok this is how it’s going to be your an officer now do you understand you may have to order your “friend” to do something dangerous and your blurred the line between Officer and enlisted. When 4 months is up I want to see a lease for your own place or shared with another officer am I clear. That’s when I knew why people stay enlisted the politics have just begun.

[@philgiglio7922]

Mustangs often have a difficult time from what I've heard

[@howardr222]

@@philgiglio7922 I did somewhat but mainly from academy officer since I did go to the trade school.

[@remaguire]

@@howardr222 Canoe U, the UnCollege!

[@erict7840]

i was a Mess Specialist for 10 years, when i was a lowly E3 on the USS Chandler DDG996, i did night baker as well and I always hooked up the night watch on the bridge and engine room with fresh cinnamon rolls, banana bread, cookies and other delicious items. I even made jelly filled donuts which were a hit. I was rewarded by the Captain, when he invited me to join his liberty boat which I couldn't refuse and got liberty while my shipmates were required to wait their turn as the liberty boat at that time was done by senior to junior rank, lol.

[@mofo7689]

Fully understanding this, I always brought them to my "dining facility" when they had a birthday, became a parent, etc. As a mustang, I gave them chances to speak to me in a far more relaxed tone. Like a date, I was far more interested in what they thought as opposed to hearing what I wanted. I did go to bat for them on multiple policy changes; and ALWAYS gave them any credit for any accomplishment achieved.

[@OldNavyAirdale]

Mustangs were the best officers to serve with, because they knew what it was like to be Enlisted. I still think of ADM Boorda, started as an E-1 and made it all the way to O-9 Chief Of Naval Operations. We lost a great leader when ADM Boorda committed suicide.

[@OldNavyAirdale]

@@jerryinsc I have no idea and I agree killing yourself over a decoration that you weren't authorized to wear just doesn't make sense.

[@dudeparistx]

I was in the army and in our battalion the officers that ate with the grunts got alot more respect. Love what you do RZ

[@1337penguinman]

Navy is a bit different. Officers aren't really ALLOWED to eat with the blue shirts. I think the idea being maintaining that separation, but also giving the junior enlisted a bit of a breather. Underway, especially on smaller ships, there's not really a whole lot of relaxation time. You're basically "on the clock" 24/7. Meal times are the one time of the day where you can sit and relax, even if only for a few minutes. Having an officer sitting there watching you is far from relaxing.

[@jrfoster4225]

I read some of the comments here and have to smile. I served for 20 years and over half of that was on sea duty. Sometimes the food on the mess decks (enlisted) was fine and other times it was not so good. When I was on the Nimitz, the main line, the mess line that served a more formal meal, like meat, potatoes, vegetables, etc., often had very long lines, hence very long wait times. Up forward, we had the "speed lines", which usually got you your food fast, so you could sit down and eat fairly quickly. The speed lines had sliders on one side and burritos (of sorts) on the other and was a mostly self serve mess line. The worst time I ever had was when I was on the USS Halsey CG-23 and the Chief that ran the enlisted mess wouldn't let medical spray for roaches (lots of work), so virtually all of our food we were served, for a six month deployment, had cockroaches in it. It was horrible, but it was pick your way around the roaches and eat, or don't eat for six months. When we got back from deployment, we had a change of command and our new Captain "fired" the Chief and had a civilian company come in and eradicate all the roaches. All in all, breakfast was always the best meal of the day on the mess decks.

[@michaelpolk6921]

Most people don't understand that enlisted personnel get clothing and equipment issued and are fed in mess halls and that officers generally are required to pay mess bills and buy uniforms. Recently, the son of a good friend was commissioned in the Marine Corps. Several of us had known this young man since childhood and had recommended him for commission. We had a collection and bought him his officer's sword, still required as a "drill implement" by the Corps.

[@MkVII]

Cafeteria-style messing was introduced in some newer British ships during WW2 but most still had 'broadside messing' where the cook of the mess collected the ingredients from the ship's store, took them down to the mess and prepared them for cooking, then took the dish up to the galley, and brought it back to the mess when cooked for serving out. There was nothing to be said for this system, except that it had remained absolutely unchanged since Nelson's day. The sailor's natural conservatism kept it so, and as usual the wardroom were not interested. British officers were shaken by the degree of relative luxury USN sailors enjoyed, and there was serious consideration to taking out fittings in US-supplied ships, such as ice-cream machines, lest it should make British sailors 'soft'.

[@JM-lk6wo]

That sounds typical of the ultra-conservative, caste ridden traditions of the Royal Navy. After the advent of steam power and breech loading guns, the Admiralty was very reluctant to adopt new technology; "If it was good enough for Nelson" was a widely held view.

[@davidcruz8667]

It's not exactly a buffet except for food out in the seating areas, things like salad fixings, cereal, fruit, and coffee, milk, juices, and soda. The chow line for enlisted is more like the serving line of a cafeteria, usually it's a choice of either a couple of different meats and starches and veggies, with additional things like pie, etc. For breakfast you can now get either the already made scrambled eggs, or eggs to order such as omelettes with your choice of fillings, or sunny side up, etc, but it used to be that you just ate what they gave you, no bitchin' allowed. I love the SOS or biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and I tend to stay up once in a while if I'm not on night crew to eat midrats, which is usually when you get the rich fatty foods for working on deck during the cold of the night, such as thick sausages and sliders. Some days of the week you can expect yakisoba or pizza or tacos, and there are often surf and turf nights with steak and lobster. So yes, I'm fine with the enlisted galleys, we used so much energy that I was always hungry and I knew exactly how to fill up... but I'm a retired Marine and they kept us busy, and no offense to our Navy buddies, but a lot of them looked like they could use some more PT. Sorry. I did pick up a particular habit from the Chiefs, I always bought a ship's mug from each particular boat and kept it full of coffee all day. Preferably the nice metal ones with the wide bottom instead of the straight plastic ones. I don't know about anybody else, but in my opinion Navy chow is pretty darn good. Even better than the Air Force... yes, I've had their chow. Meh... Now I want some sliders...

[@keithrosenberg5486]

A funny letter was written to YANK magazine during WWII. Dear Yank: In a recent issue of Yank T-5 Nebling stated that the man preceding him in the chocolate bar ration line received nine almonds in his Hershey bar whereas he himself only received seven. We feel that we can clearly clarify the situation by pointing out that through some gross unpardonable error the other soldier undoubtedly received an officer's Hershey bar. -Capt. Frank L. Kirby* Baker General Hospital * Also signed by Lt. Andrew J. Lisman and Lt. Gerard M. Nordone. Yank Magazine

[@loveisall5520]

Thanks so much for the information, Ryan! I knew there was a difference, but didn't know the particulars.

[@americanmilitiaman88]

I love the galley or DFAC as the army called it in Afghanistan. We all ate there no matter the rank. A marine had commented one time about the separation of E7 and above and the enlisted. I agree that shipboard it is a good idea to maintain order and discipline and prevent mutiny. Ground units its not possible often times and unit cohesion is important.

[@stevehughes7789]

Great channel. I love what you are doing and how you are doing it. I just wish I would not have to go to the state of New Jersey to visit this beautiful ship!!!

[@byronking9573]

That "ship's silver" deserves a comment. There's a tradition dating back to distant centuries that major warships have serving ware for special occasions. The "silver" angle dates back at least to ancient Rome. Fast forward to the US Navy, where a 19th century version was that ship's sponsors would raise funds for the silver service. This was particularly true when a ship was named after a state or large city. Players in each locale would raise funds -- or obtain a state legislature appropriation -- to sponsor the silver service, often buying it from big names like Tiffanys or International Silver. With BB/NJ, the silver dates from 1906, originally manufactured for BB-16, an earlier ship of same name. Cost back then was $10,000, paid to Tiffany's. The silver remains titled to the Navy and is on loan back to BB/NJ Museum under a special agreement that includes significant insurance coverage. (Of course, this silver is irreplaceable.) . Also worth noting that ship's silver from USS Arizona (BB-39) was recovered after the vessel was sunk at Pearl Harbor, and is on display at a shore-side museum.

[@johnyarbrough502]

"Buffet style" looks a whole lot like my high school cafeteria.

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

I loved being a Warrant Officer. We can fit in with either crowd.

[@markmclaughlin2690]

I was in the Army as Tank Commander we knew we had Warrants but they were like unicorns you never saw them, unless you were in an aviation unit.

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

@@markmclaughlin2690 Correct, I was a pilot. Army aviation is mostly WO's. It was funny when we would go on main post (away from the airfield) and see all the confused looks on the junior enlisted faces as they tried to figure out if they should salute or not😅. Obviously they had never seen a WO (unicorn).

[@kevincrosby1760]

@@SSN515 Had a CW02 as a Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA). I think that he was in the Navy when "Set Sail" meant exactly that. On more than one occasion I saw him stop, cock his head a bit, perhaps put his hand on the bulkhead, then pick up a mic and say something like "Lower Level, check XYZ". It was almost scary. Once handed a new guy a 16-inch adjustable wrench and told him to go down to the engine room to "tighten the nuts on the MPA...just ask the Warrant for instructions". Was hilarious. "I *AM* the MPA", followed by some rather explicit and detailed instructions regarding exactly where and how he should stow the wrench...then he sent the poor guy off to the mess decks for a bucket of feed water. Funny thing about that wrench and the MPA, the next time he saw it he literally tackled me and took it away from me. I was on my way to discuss with a shipmate the details of electricity, my fingers, and why he would NEVER again touch a Red Tag without being SURE that he was pulling the proper one.. That Warrant probably saved my crow. The other guy ended up reviewing the tag-out procedures as he was copying them...with pen and paper.

[@flaming_stealth_banana]

@@SSN515 That would be a negative. You threw away your anchors when you accepted the WO commission.

[@tommyt8998]

@@markmclaughlin2690 I was in Army Intelligence 1967 to 1970, We had many Warrant Officers who were CI Officers. Most had been senior NCOs for years before getting their Warrants.

[@johnhix484]

Served 22 years in the US Army and the best meal I ever had on base was in a Navy NCO mess. Steaks to order by cut and by choice. Roast beef, chicken roasted, wide selection of veggies and deserts. After loading up one’s tray,one went to a round table that seated 6. Chairs had casters that rolled over a thick blue carpet. All drinks, coffee, tea, water, juices and tap beer (this was Germany in the Cold War days where service members were authorized beer with their meal) were served at ones table by a steward. I thought for awhile I had joined the wrong service!

[@calvinhobbes7504]

Great coverage of a great topic again, Ryan. Thanks to you and company as usual! :)

[@1337penguinman]

I was a submarine sailor back in the early 2000s. What's funny is we still had this wardroom/enlisted mess divide even though it wasn't quite to this level. We actually really had 3 messes. You have the enlisted mess, the wardroom, and the goat locker (Chiefs.)

[@tancar2004]

My dad was in the Air Force back in the 70's he always said Air Force food was amazing. A few years ago I worked with an older guy who was in the Army back in the 70's. He was attached to the Air Borne, he prepped for air drops and packed parachutes. So he spent some time on Air Force Bases and he agreed air force food was much better than what he got in the army. He also noted lax the discipline in the Air Force. If you were passing an Air Force officer and saluted them they'd look at you weird almost asking "what are you doing?" He said anytime they had a choice they'd eat on an air force base

[@klsc8510]

I am both an Airman and Soldier (National Guard). Army Chow Halls have insane rules at times. When deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, those rules were history. My best chow was in the Air Force when TDY to Saudi Arabia in 1982 to Dhahran. Our quarters was the Ramada Inn and the chow hall was the Ramada restaurant. Those 20 ounce Australian T-Bone steaks were so very good!!!

[@JM-lk6wo]

Well, the USAF is the LEAST 'military' of the various branches. I have heard that the AF, when setting up a new base, would build the officer's club and golf course first, then come back and ask for more money to build the aircraft facilities...

[@klsc8510]

@@JM-lk6wo My MI Army National Guard may have been a touch less military than the active Air Force. But when we went to Iraq in 2003, us "old soldiers" showed the young pups how Signal is Done!

[@leonardwei3914]

I concur. When I was active duty Army starting in 2004, I was assigned to Fort Bragg. Right next door is Pope Air Force Base (or Field as it is now) and any chance we could, we enlisted would pile into one vehicle and drive to the Air Force side to eat at their DEFAC since they accepted our meal cards. Hands down, leagues above what was usually shoveled to us on the Army side. Even their base seemed nicer: the base seemed cleaner, people seemed happier, barracks nicer, and if it was cloudy in Fort Bragg, it seem the Sun was shining on the Pope AFB side.

[@wfwillis]

When I served on the USS Chicago CG-11, as a CWO2, we had a Warrant Officer's table in the wardroom for the evening meal. A different junior officer was assigned to eat with us CWOs at our table each evening, which was sometimes entertaining. The XO (CDR Reimann) later eliminated the Warrant Officer's table. We had two meal sittings, early informal sitting, and later formal sitting. I usually ate at the early informal sitting. CWO4 USN Ret.

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I served in the USN for 10 years and never went to sea. I went to sea often with my job after the Navy. When ever I sailed I always ate in the mess decks, never in the wardroom. I let my scientists I worked with do the wardroom but I always ate with my people.

[@barrykery1175]

I never had a complaint about the food aboard ship. Eating in a chow line was fine by me. Sure beats eating out of bag in the middle of a jungle. 3 squares a day and our food always tasted good. We also had a massive spread for xmas. Barry

[@larrybaker9924]

In all matters of the Navy, they are just a cut above everyone else.

[@trooperdgb9722]

My main sea time was on US designed Frigates (modified Oliver Hazard Perry class) in Royal Australian Navy service, namely HMA Ships ADELAIDE and SYDNEY - and those vessels had ONE Galley. EVERYONE ate the same meals. The difference? The CO (in his day cabin) and us Officers (in the Wardroom) would order from a typed menu... and a Steward would serve up that meal and send it up in a dumbwaiter. (The Galley was one deck below the Wardroom) so... ours were never really hot. That was the main difference lol All of that dressing up and seating by rank and waiting for the XO etc did NOT apply at ANY time other than a formal "Mess Dinner" (A few times a year celebrating specific occasions such as "Trafalgar Night", and NEVER at while at sea) On the SYDNEY in the Gulf 1990/91 we all wore overalls.

[@thissailorja]

The last yard period i was in, they were redoing the enlisted mess decks in a gutting and rebuild. The E5 and Below were allowed to eat in the CPO Mess, and the 1st Class (there was about 60 of us E6) and Above were to eat in the Officers' Mess, but for us it was buffet style. We did have to ask permission of the senior officer at the table to join them. This lasted about 2 weeks until the Mess Deck was finished. This was an LHD in 06.

[@adamdejesus4017]

Soooo...there's a myth that Naval Officers are "waited upon". Maybe in the past but not now, and my experience is Aircraft Carriers. It may look like the Officers are waited upon because Enlisted crew members take their empty plates, but here's the thing: CVNs have 1000 Officers and 300 dinner plates. They have to bus the plates or the Officer chow line stops. Enlisted crew trays are easier to clean and cheaper and much more abundant. But their chow lines are of course very long because there are so many trying to eat all at once. Good content, Ryan!

[@phcusnret]

I cranked in the wardroom on a carrier in 1985. The only meal they were served was breakfast. Lunch and supper were buffet-style.

[@Grimmwoldds]

Most of the officers I knew(mid 2000s on a DDG) would rather have died than to be seen exercising personal privilege. Barring formal occasions, which don't really count.

[@adamdejesus4017]

​@@phcusnret Amen. No one ever brought me food unless it was a reenlistment cake. Always buffet. But the cranks would steal your plate from the table because the LCPO told them to!

[@TorontoJediMaster]

I read that on carriers, officers in the Air Wing generally eat in a "Dirty Shirt" wardroom while the ship's permanent cadre of officers usually eat in the formal wardrooms.

[@jerrycomo2736]

Mess cooked 3 CPO mess's, Diego Garcia, a destroyer USS MC Fox, TPU Great Lakes. Then as a civilian mariner I was a guest on the USS Spruance Officers Mess, very nice. But the best was the 3 days I spent on the carrier USS Midway riding out a cyclone off Hong Kong waiting to be helo'ed to my Replenishment Oiler. Ate in the pilot's mess. Self-serve casual dining open all day and night. Best food ever.

[@adamdubin1276]

On my brother's second ship, the CO was more than a little disliked. If there was a meal that the CO found dissatisfactory he would berate the SUPPO in front of all of his officers during meals, reducing them to tears on at least three different occasions... at first the XO tried to play interference between the CO and the officers (particularly the Junior officers) as he found this bad for morale, the CO would then run roughshod over the XO and micromanage the crew himself essentially reducing the XO to a high ranking passenger on the ship. My brother was more than a little happy when he got transferred off of the ship. My Brother was the ship's Navigator so he had to deal with the CO on a regular basis. By contrast he loved his first ship, the Skipper was a genuinely good man and competent commander. Supposedly (according to my brother) every couple of weeks the CO would apparently round up several off duty officers, dismiss the stewards for the morning and make pancakes for the ward room (this was a flight I Arleigh-Burke, so less than 30 officers total) to boost morale and hear from his officers outside of official reports.

[@jeremycox2983]

Those are good officers they take care of their men. I have been by a friend that the last think an officer wants to do is make his or crew to hate to the point that they want to frag them.

[@TigerDude333]

Chops are made for berating, we'd've been quite happy for the skipper to participat, too.

[@tonytrotta9322]

In WW2 Aboard USS Louisville CA 28 heavy cruiser: Prior to General Quarters being issued on USS Louisville CA 28 - Approx. 1/4 of the 100 strong 20 mm A/A crew was getting dinner (cold cuts - sandwiches) and after the ship got hit Jan 5, 1945 by a kamikaze knocking out of commision No 2 main battery 8 inch 55 caliber gun turret and general quarters was ordered all crew were at their 20 mm A/A guns. A meal the sailors never got to finish. The gun turret was repaired and found in 2015 in the Nevada Desert as a testing unit for atomic bombs.

[@dalesql2969]

There would also be the warrant officer's mess, the cheif's mess, and 1st class mess. One interesting bit of trivia was that the XO was responsible for ensuring "The quality and quantity" of the food in enlisted mess was adequate. On our ship, one officer was assigned to eat one meal on the enlisted mess per meal. It rotated so it was a different officer each meal. They were instructed to go to the middle of the scheduled meal time, and stand in line just like the rest of us. The better ones took the opportunity to pick up the rumors floating around and what the crew was bitching about that day.

[@kevincrosby1760]

Never saw the "daily test", but if the CO started hearing complaints, he was liable to show up in the middle of the chow line holding a tray. He made it a point to show up in coveralls with no rank insignia, and would park himself at the first empty place he came to and INVITE everybody to "feel free to bitch, I'm just here for dinner". Funny thing is, legitimate "bitch topics" were generally at least addressed within a day or two.

[@cheftomsd]

Yes this was common on my ship a DDG.

[@dalesql2969]

I should also mention that on the Glover, the food was usually excellent. (except the days we were getting underway. those days it was invariably something greasy and nasty, to aid the crew in getting seasick.) In the time I was aboard, I gained several inches on my waistline.

[@JimDandy49]

I was in the Army. You sign the chow roster every meal, and in the evenings, half the men were so exhausted they are already hunkered down in their foxholes, and didn't go to chow. They do a head count after each meal using the roster, and that determines how many meals they make the next morning. Of course, everybody shows up the next morning, so you might get powdered eggs if you were at the front of the line, the rest of the company would get two pieces of bacon and two pieces of bread. The First Sergeant was always at the back of the line, so he got to chew on some NCO ass for breakfast instead, and got that straightened out real quick.

[@philgiglio7922]

Good to hear First eats last. His job is unit esprit as much as anything. Keep an ear to the ground that way

[@stormycatmink]

@@philgiglio7922 When I was in Basic, the Drill Sergeant knew I was headed for OCS, so he made sure I stood at the back of the mess line with him. When I was in my unit, I still stayed at the back if we were all eating together, right behind my platoon sergeant. Helps young officers remember their job is to enable the unit to perform the captain's orders.

[@darkdaysunrise]

I love the video's about regular life about the ship. good episode thank you:D

[@MrRmeadows]

Enlisted might wait in a long line. Just like we did in school. On ship (CVN-71 in later 80s) there were 4 different place enlisted could eat. You could get a burger from one of them 24 / 7. Very short line for burgers.

[@31dknight]

Another great video from the battleship. Thanks

[@Vinemaple]

When I did my internship aboard an MSFSC ammo ship, my pretentious tech school called me a "cadet," despite the fact that I was there as an intern as part of my AB program (that's an unlicensed rank). I was directed to the officers' mess for my first meals, and given a room in officer country. I was very uncomfortable the whole time and really doubted they were setting me up properly, to the point where I actually expressed my doubts... I was worried that they would think I had done it on purpose, but I also didn't want to cause trouble on my first day aboard... After a day or two, they realized their mistake and moved me to a 2nd deck berth and told me to eat in the crew mess. I have rarely been as relieved in my entire life! Explanation: a "cadet" is a student officer, and considered to be part of the managerial class. An AB is a deckhand, and is considered to be part of the essential worker class.

[@IvorMektin1701]

Halsey slicing the cake with a bayonet 🤣

[@harveywallbanger3123]

I wonder what it was celebrating... "Thanks for sailing us into that hurricane, idiot".

[@vwandtiny3769]

No mention of the "Buck" the Buck is any ornamental object that can be placed by the Senior officer in the wardroom to designate who should be served first by the steward, typically the skipper is always served first and always sits at the head of the table, however if there is a flag officer or dignitary onboard the skipper can place the buck in front of the guest thereby notifying the steward to serve him first. Hence the term originated "pass the Buck", Retired CS1 commenting here.

[@poppajretired410]

Passing the buck came from poker.

[@vwandtiny3769]

@@poppajretired410 "Passing the buck" originated from a ritual practiced during card games. Card players used to place a marker, called a "buck," in front of the person who was the dealer. That marker was passed to the next player along with the responsibility of dealing. Eventually "passing the buck" became synonymous with passing on responsibility., in the Navy tradition it means to the wardroom who is responsible for being served first.

[@andreperrault5393]

Great job, Bravo Zulu to you again. My father was a USN mustang officer. As a kid our family got to cruise on USS Kittywhawk, CV-63, from Bremerton, WA, to San Diego, CA, when it came out of SLEP. We ate in the officer’s wardroom. Breakfast and dinner were fine, but I didn’t have my sea legs, so lunch didn’t agree with me. My turn came as an Air Force officer. Our D-Fac in Pakistan was the best thing to eat at there. But, in Afghanistan, nothing beat the USN CB galley on Deh Dadi. Even the civilian contractors working the contract Army D-Fac wanted and did eat there. Best food and the cook (chef) there said he had been through Dave Ramsey’s Hells Kitchen. The Navy has the best food. Air Force gets steak and lobster more often. ;-)

[@edwardrhoades6957]

In the Navy, steak and lobster usually means you're about to get bad news, like your deployment being extended.

[@peterpoertner7042]

When I was assigned to my first ship out of "A" school, almost immediately given the duty of "cranking" on the mess decks as part of the initial rotation that every Seaman gets. Not long after, I was sent up to the wardroom to "crank" up there, but also given the 'Choice' position of being responsible for taking care of the Captain as his 'steward'. Of course on a DDG, the captain did not eat his meals in his stateroom, but did so with the rest of the wardroom, always sitting at the head of the table as the head of the family should. We had a small decorative brass cannon that was placed in front of typically junior officer (Ensign or Ltjg) which signified that they would be saying grace. Because of the smaller size of the wardroom, we would have two 'settings' for officers, with the captain, XO, department heads typically eating at the 1st setting' and the other officers rotating to the 2nd setting so they could partake in conversation with the senior officers and get some 'face time'. After service and cleaning up from breakfast, it was off to the captains cabin (both in port and at sea) to clean his spaces, private head, collect laundry to be taken down and bring back cleaned and pressed uniforms. Pretty easy time with the added perk of being able to 'Sample' what ever the wardroom was eating that day, not having to stand a watch.

[@1stltwife]

I was an enlisted sailor and married an enlisted sailor who was an LDO. He was a worker in the Officers Mess as E1 on-board his first ship. Fast forward, he becomes an O1E. He never forgot where he came from and the food was the same. He liked a bigger " rack" aka stateroom but along with the perks comes responsibility. Served 25 years and retired. We loved our military life but retirement is nice!! I was so proud of his accomplishments but he was the same guy. HONOR COURAGE COMMITMENT..USN God bless America 🇺🇸

[@randyogburn2498]

I had a high school field trip to Ft. Rucker. We got to have lunch in the mess hall with the Warrant Officer Candidates. The service was cafeteria style & you did have some choices. I was surprised how good my meal was.

[@edwardrhoades6957]

Our Chaplains on USS Nassau LHA-4 often joined us in the crew mess.

[@oceanmariner]

I was on board the Massachusetts in Battleship Cove, still in WWII setup. The crews mess had no seating. Only tables at a height to allow eating while standing.

[@mikeklaene4359]

I was an Army draftee from 66 to 68. The food varied by unit. Some mess sergeants cared about what they served - a few did not. Luckily I like SOS.

[@mikeklaene4359]

@@jerryinsc Growing up in the 50's into the 60's, my brothers and I regarded SOS as a special treat at home.

[@mikeklaene4359]

@@jerryinsc 76 in October. My draft notice came in the mail on my 20th BD in 1966.

[@Forensource]

I had lunch at the Superintendant's Table at USAF Academy. That was the best military meal ever Back in 1982.

[@divarachelenvy]

I love these videos Ryan... I think I would prefer the enlisted mess too.

[@haljames624]

Thank you

[@luacreskid]

Yes, officers had a mess bill. We also could buy tickets for sandwiches in the evening when at sea. The ship I was on had a separate ward room for department heads where the XO ate. We each had a napkin ring with a number on it. You could tell the ebb and flow of officers on the ship by moving up the number list...the lower the number the more senior you were in the ward room. I went from "boot" ensign (most junior) to "bull" ensign in my first 18 months aboard. By the time I left I was able to dine with the senior lieutenants and the junior Lt. Cdrs. This was a CVA so we had air wing embarked with a lot of LtJg and Lt on board. When we were in port..very informal. One in port period, I was able to get my wife on board for a meal. I do not remember any enlisted eating in the ward room (this was in the mid 1960s). I never ate in the enlisted mess, but I would have sandwiches made up for the men doing fire sides in the boiler room. As Division Officer I could authorize "mid rats" for certain enlisted. And the cooks would always give us sweet rolls if they had them when we went on watch at 3:00 a.m. while at sea. Lots of camaraderie.

[@remaguire]

I did all my ship deployments as a PO2. No complaints as far as the chow goes. As a matter of fact, the best chow I ever had in my 11 ship deployments was on USS America when we were in the North Arabian Sea! I retired as an officer, but did make it to CPO enlisted. If I went back to sea and had my druthers it would be in the CPO Mess. Now the goats knew how to run a mess! I visited a friend of mine who was CMC on Paul Foster and the goat locker was living the dream! Great food, no BS. Just the way I like it!

[@wacojones8062]

I have been to formal events and eaten square meals. I will take a bag to go thank you.

[@oldcop18]

I served from ‘65 - ‘67 as an E-4 (HM3) aboard a destroyer tender & if memory serves the chow was pretty good, but was never invited or even saw the wardroom or captain’s cabin.

[@joeswanson733]

remember folks officers are a higher breed as they are gentlemen.

[@tomtrenter3208]

CGC Morgenthau escorted CGC Eagle to europe in 1975 and In La Harve France we loaded stores part of which was about 700 kg(1500lbs) of frozen boxes of "meat". On the way home our stew burners started serving "meat" from our new supply. We immediately noticed a big improvement in the quality of it. After we got back to our home port I happened to be in our supply office checking on the status of spare parts for our sonar when I noticed a receipt, written in french, for 700 kg of horse meat! We were all disappointed when we ran out.

[@lauramitchell1924]

Greyhound was outstanding!

[@davidyetter5409]

Generally there is a third dining area called the Chiefs Mess. I dined there on the Wisconsin while on board for a short time prior to the final decommissioning.

[@922claymont922]

The current Navy Wardroom is very informal. My CO always ate in the Wardroom. He liked to talk with the junior officers to see how they were doing. The admirals mess on the carrier I rode on was just a little more formal than that.

[@asasial1977]

Enlisted all day. Officers may have had better food. But their company…

[@dakotaman408]

During my 24ys of service i ate in the enlisted mess and CPO mess. Chiefs often ate in the wardroom when the Mess was down for whatever reason in port, and yes, Chiefs did eat better than the Officers

[@peterpierce9233]

I liked the Enlisted Mess and when I became a Chief, I found out how good they had it

[@frankbarnwell____]

Cerca 87. A young 3rd class messman left a cotton barmop rag in an oven on self-cleaning. He took a nap. In the wardroom galley. The smoke after the rag ignited inundated the officer's 0-2, deck. Boy, what a long day airing it out.... but could have killed many. Everyone lived. I and others swabed up after.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

What happened to the messman? Tossed overboard? or likely wished he had been.

[@freedomlinux]

He was never seen again, but the chili was unusually good for the rest of that week...

[@tykit9230]

@@freedomlinux waste not want not

[@Jreb1865]

@@freedomlinux Used everything but the squeal...lol

[@robertseybold1818]

Also, during WWII there was on the second deck a chief warrant officer mess. When re commed in the 80’s that mess was done away with due to the reduced numbers of CWO’s attached.

[@jamesrichardson1326]

Enlisted for me. Also you should do a video about the chief's mess and where the 1st class petty officers ate.

[@ricashbringer9866]

On the Massachusetts I don't remember an elisted mess, but saw stools and table around the barbetts outside the kitchen. The ward room is the museums cafeteria now.

[@GaryED44]

Its the enlisted buffet for this guy, I love that style of meal

[@leftyo9589]

its more slop dumped on a tray, not really a buffet.

[@Aramis419]

I was just past the New Jersey the other day! I said to my folks and family - we had a giant convoy - “Let’s swing by and climb aboard!” “But we’re going to Cape May!” “Well, unless there’s an earthquake, Cape May ain’t going anywhere!” I was overruled.

[@rossbryan6102]

MY FAVORITE MILITARY COOK STORY REVOLVES AROUND AN ARMY COOK! I DID SERVE FROM 1963 TO OCTOBER 1967 IN THE RESERVE! AN NO I WAS NOT IMPRESSED BY ARMY CHOW! AFTER OUT OF BASIC AND JOB TRAINING I NAILED DOWN A RAILROAD JOB, AND USUALLY WORKED THE 4 PM TO MIDNIGHT SHIFT. AFTER WORK I WOULD USUALLY STOP AT A DENNYS IN OLATHE KS FOR A SMALL MEAL. FOR A WHILE THEY HAD THIS MIDNIGHT MANAGER WHO I GOT AQUAINTED WITH, WHO WAS INTERESTED IN MY WORK ON THE RAILROAD! ONE NIGHT HE ASKED ME IF I KNEW ANY COOKS NEEDING A JOB, AND I SAID NO THE MANAGER HAD A COOK QUIT AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT! A FEW DAYS LATER HE TOLD ME HE FOUND A NEW COOK, A GUY WHO JUST LEFT THE ARMY IN THE SUMMER OF 1975! HE WAS QUITE PLEASED, THINKING HE HAD A VERY EXPERIENCED COOK! I ASKED THE MANAGER WHAT KIND OF A COOK WAS HE AND IF HE HAD BEEN A COOK IN THE OFFICERS CLUB OR HAD JUST BEEN A LINE COOK! THE MANAGER , NEVER HAVING BEEN IN THE MILITARY DID NOT KNOW! BUT HE SAID “ HE HAS TO BE GOOD WITH 20 YEARS “ THE NEXT NIGHT WAS THE NEW COOKS FIRST STARTING AT MIDNIGHT! I CAME IN ABOUT 12:30 AM AND IT WAS A DISASTER, WITH WAITRESS ES COMING BACK WITH EGGS SCRAMBLED INSTEAD OF SUNNY SIDE UP ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS WRONG OR POORLY PREPARED! THE NEW COOK MUST HAVE WORKED IN BASIC TRAINING CHOW HALLS AND NOT THE OFFICERS CLUBS! 3 NIGHT LATER THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER COOK AGAIN!!! APPARENTLY THE NEW GUY NEVER LEARNED TO COOK TO ORDER, LOL LOL!!

[@whatever8282828]

What a birthday "gift" to have to take dinner with the captain! I would have a hard time with that.

[@captainscarlett1]

In Commonwealth armies a personal servant is called a batman. That's right, senior officers and Warrant officers get their own batman. They don't generally wear a mask or cape. (Maybe in some highland regiments.)

[@cheftomsd]

I was on a DDG and a 3rd class Commissaryman. Filipinos ran the Ward room galley and frequently we would trade food back and forth between the cooks and Stewards. They often cooked Filipino food which was great.

[@doughudgens9275]

In the Army, in the field, officers and leadership did not eat until after all the troops did.

[@Jan-hx9rw]

Neither did good NCOs. Always made sure my troops (and the other platoons' troops) ate before any of my NCOs did - and I didn't eat until after they were fed. There were a couple times the food ran out in the field, and that's when the troops noticed you are taking care of them rather than yourself.

[@hithere7382]

@@Jan-hx9rw It's proven that hungry people make worse decisions than well-fed people, it's probable that some people got killed because their NCOs and junior officers skipped breakfast before engagements.

[@andrews2990]

That’s how it should be. Officers should always eat last.

[@GABABQ2756]

Add the Goat Locker mess.

[@cleekmaker00]

Whether it's a Warship, a Regiment, a Camping trip or School Lunch; the Morale and Happiness of the assembled is directly proportional to the Quality and Variety of the Food Service that's provided to them. It's why in the era of the Cattle Drive, the Cook was paid equal to the Trail Boss. It's why the best "Culinary Specialists" are in the Navy, and most likely serve on Submarines.

[@Krahazik]

Maybe buffee style, but you don't get a choice in what goes on your plate. Army dining facility was about the same way really. We did get some choices, but not much.

[@johnarrow3354]

The place settings, fine china, silver etc is for formal mess dinners and not for every day eating. I also believe that wine glasses were not required, though I might be wrong.

[@davegoodridge8352]

Would you have any idea what happened to this silver service set from the Battleship USS Oklahoma?

[@jerryjones7293]

The enlisted mess on APA 237 was definitely the economy class of the US Navy. I supplemented my diet by buying from the ship's store.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Even SILVER. That's absolutely RIDICULOUS.

[@colosseumbuilders4768]

It's like the difference between a Carnival Cruise and a Celebrity Cruise.

[@MrPh30]

I was army, private. But where we served it was zue to location the mess were shared with bot Nco, Enlisted, Officers, Vips had their own arrangement when they visited.

[@05Hogsrule]

You need to cover the topic of the CHIEF's MESS....that is the serious end of dining through the NCO Chain. Rites of Passage...

[@apburner1]

Do navy officers also get their bottoms powdered in the morning and tucked in at night?

[@briangulley6027]

For the most part, worst part is most expect it but don't deserve it.

[@harveywallbanger3123]

Only Annapolis grads. Their parents have certain expectations for them, naturally.

[@strathadam1]

The RCAF enlisted messes (both the junior NCMs, as well as the Sgts & WOs messes) had great food, and the atmosphere was always very relaxed and casual. Can't really speak for the officers mess, as the only time I ever ate in those is during formal mess dinners, and then got voluntold to attend as a representative of our section.

[@terryrogers6232]

I was draftee army. Junior officers are with enlisted at meals. We enlisted just take a step back at the head of the line to admit officers. That's the way it was way back when.

[@ccjmanray8202]

I think cafeteria-style is the appropriate description for meals on the mess decks as opposed to buffet. You do not help yourself in the mess line. Chow is ladled out. Another commenter made the key point: officers pay, enlisted men do not. On newer ships the captains dine in the wardroom. I served aboard a Spruance-class destroyer. It had no separate captain's mess, but aboard the older cruiser USS Wainwright, the CO had his own mess.

[@billclarke5916]

In the film clip with Bull Halsey, who is the officer with the cap on? And why was he wearing head dress in the ward room? He looks a bit like the actor William Demarest

[@ashman187]

Lets get this out on to a tray ..... Nice!

[@swaghauler8334]

This IS one thing the US Army does right. ALL of my officers (there was nobody higher than a Captain, 03 in my two units) always dined with the enlisted men and even participated in events and training evolutions with the enlisted. NCOs were also brought into CINC for briefings so everyone was "on the same page." But in the 10th during the late 80s and early 90s, there was a real "lead by example" attitude in the officer corps. It's hard to lead men in battle if you haven't established trust first. Sadly, I have heard that "lead by example" is no longer practiced by the 10th Mountain.