201.01.09 military etiquette

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PRIMARY LEADERSHIP COURSE MASTER LESSON PLAN

1. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE: PO 201

2. ENABLING OBJECTIVE: EO 201.01.09

3. PERFORMANCE: Describe Military Etiquette

4. CONDITIONS :

a. Given:

1. reference material; and

2. assistance.

b. Denied: nil

c. Environment: under all conditions

5. STANDARD: IAW specified references, the trainee shall apply mess etiquette.

6. TEACHING POINTS:

a. The Military Mess; and

b. Mess Dinners.

7. TIME: 1 period

8. METHOD: Lecture/Distributed Learning

9. REFERENCES:

a. A-JS-007-002/JD-001 Customs and Traditions of the Canadian Forces

pages 13 and 14; and

b. A-AD-262-000/AG-000 Mess Administration, pages 5-3 to 5-8

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10. TRAINING AIDS:

a. reference material; and

b. Powerpoint presentation.

11. LEARNING AIDS:

a. reference material.

12. TEST DETAILS: this material will be tested in PC 201, part 1.

13. REMARKS: Nil.



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EO 201.01.09

MILITARY ETIQUETTE

INTRODUCTION

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE:

During this lesson, we will discuss mess dinner etiquette and

procedures.

WHERE:

You will use this knowledge throughout your career in the Canadian

Forces whenever you attend or plan a formal mess function.

WHY:

The mess dinner is one of the important traditions of the Canadian

Forces. A mess dinner is an official CF military social function, which holds

the status of a parade. An understanding of the proper protocol and correct

military etiquette at such a function is vital for CF leaders.

APPROACH:

This lesson will be taught in one stage:

Stage 1: We will discuss the significance of the military

mess and general mess dinner etiquette and procedure.

CONTROL STATEMENT:

Your participation is encouraged throughout the class. No class

answers are permitted, however. If you have any questions, raise your hand.



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STAGE 1

INTRODUCTION

The word mess, in the service context, conjures up different pictures

for different people. In the Canadian Forces, there are separate messes forcommissioned officers, warrant officers and sergeants and junior ranks.

There are unit messes, base and station messes, and messes in HMC ships.

I In this stage we will discuss the origin of the word mess, the

significance of the military mess, and take a look at the procedures and

etiquette that apply during a mess dinner.

TP 11(a) THE MILITARY MESS

QTC: Where did the term mess come from?

ANS: Derived originally from the Latin missum, the Old French

word mes had the meaning of a dish, a serving of food or a

course of dishes and, eventually, a serving dish holding food

for four people. This, in turn, took on the connotation of a

group of four who habitually sat together at table and

helped themselves from the same dishes hence, a mess.

In the two hundred years we have had messes, the continuing themecommon to all is that the mess is where the officers and men take their food.

But the mess is more than that. It is a place where comrades come

together to share experience and friendship. This in turn leads to the

development of Service attitudes and professional competence. This

learning process, done as it is in an informal and friendly atmosphere,

contributes much to esprit de corps and pride in service. This whole conceptis something unique to the military.

QTC: Are there any questions?



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Assembly members assemble in the lounge 30 minutes prior to

the time set for dinner. This enables members to meet and entertain guests,

have a pre-dinner drink and ascertain their position at the table from a

seating plan.

The Mess Manager/Senior Steward will inform the PMC when dinner

is ready. The PMC obtains permission from the Official Host to give the

word to the bugler or piper to play Mess Call. The members of the head

table will enter the dining room first, followed by the remainder of the

assembly.

Members and guests will remain standing behind their chairs. The

Mess Manager/Senior Steward reports to the PMC that all members and

guests are present. The PMC will rap the gavel for silence and call upon

the Chaplain or another designated member to say Grace.


QTC: What are some of the social rules that must be observed at a

mess dinner?

ANS: Because the dinner is a formal function, special rules should

be observed. These include that no diner may:

a. smoke during the meal;

b. commence a meal before the PMC;

c. discuss political or controversial subjects;

d. act in a boisterous manner;

e. propose a toast;

f. talk after the PMC summons attention or until

he has finished speaking;

g. leave the table during the meal unless permitted

to do so by the PMC or Vice-PMC.



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At the conclusion of the meal, the table is cleared of everything except

the port glasses.

QTC: What is the next event to occur?

ANS: The toasts (passing the port).

When the table is cleared, port decanters are placed on the table in

front of the PMC. If a large number of diners are present, decanters may

also be placed in front of the VPMC and at the end of each table on the left

hand side. When they are in place the PMC and VPMC unstop the

decanters, charge their glasses and then pass the decanters to the left.

Whether the decanter touches the table or not is a matter of mess

custom:

at an Air Force mess dinner, the port shall not touch the

table while being passed. The decanter touches the table only

when empty.

at a Naval mess dinner, the decanter must always be in

contact with the table

at an Army mess dinner, the decanter is tapped lightly on

the table as it is passed from person to person

QTC: What is the glass of port used for?

ANS: The toasts starting with the Loyal Toast.

PMC raps gavel for silence, then rises and holding his glass at

waist level, addresses the VPMC, saying Mr/Madam Vice, theQueen of Canada. (in either official language).

theVice PMC rises and, holding his glass at waist level, replies

La Reine du Canada. (in the other official language).



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all rise and stand silently for the playing of God Save the

Queen Glasses may be held at waist level or left on the table

according to mess custom. In the Navy, all remain seated for the

Loyal Toast.

at the conclusion of God Save the Queen, all raise their

glasses and toast the Queen of Canada! or La Reine du

Canada! and drink.

all then place their glasses on the table and sit.

Other Toasts when official representatives of other foreign states are

present, the Loyal Toast shall be proposed first. The Host should then

propose a toast to the head of state of the country to which the guest belongs,

e.g., Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States. TheNational Anthem of that country (or a shorter version) should then be played.

When a number of nations are represented, the Host should propose a

collective toast, e.g., Ladies and gentlemen, the heads of state here

represented. No anthems would be played in this case.


Regimental marches will then be played as directed by the PMC.They are played in the strict order of precedence laid out in CFAO 61-6.

QTC: What protocol shall members observe during the playing of the

regimental marches?

ANS: Stand during the playing of their respective elements

march and toast at its conclusion.

Using the example of the RCAF March past:

at the commencement of the march, all Air Force

personnel and those of other elements who have served

with Air Command rise, holding their glasses at waist

level

at the conclusion of the march, all raise their glasses



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and toast Air Force!


The Official Host will then invite the band director or piper to have a

drink. The mess steward personally brings the drink on a tray. After his

drink the band director or piper asks permission to retire. The Host may then

ask the mess steward to bring forward the senior cook and toast him also.

Should there be any speeches, they follow at this point.

At the conclusion of the speeches, the PMC will indicate that dinner is

officially over by standing until noticed by all members. The PMC will then

accompany all members to the lounge.

After-dinner entertainment following the dinner, members should

retire to the ante-room or lounge. This is not the moment to thunder en

masse out the front door!

QTC: When are members permitted to leave the mess?

ANS: Members should not leave the mess until the Host and

guests have departed. If a member is required to leave, he

should first pay his respects to the Host, but there must be

sufficient guests remaining to ensure the entertainment of

guests as long as they remain in the mess.


STAGE 1 CONFIRMATION

QTC: What is the importance of the mess to military members?

ANS: It is a place where comrades come together to share

experience and friendship. This in turn leads to the

development of Service attitudes and professional

competence.



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QTC: How long before the start of a mess dinner should you be in

the assembly area?

ANS: 30 minutes

QTC: Who is responsible to look after invited guests?

ANS: All members.


FINAL SUMMARY

In this lesson we have discussed the history and significance of the

mess and looked at the general procedures and etiquette of a mess dinner.

CONCLUSION

As leaders and supervisors you should be aware of mess etiquette and

what constitutes appropriate deportment at such formal functions. This is

vital not only in terms of guiding your own actions, but also to in order to

pass this knowledge on to your subordinates and maintain the integrity of our

CF traditions. It is reiterated that tradition may produce minor variations in

procedure for mess dinners but the overall purpose and formality of a mess

dinner will always remain.

REMOTIVATION

The mess dinner is one of the important traditions of the Canadian

Forces. A mess dinner is an official CF military social function, which holds

the status of a parade. An understanding of the proper protocol and correct

military etiquette at such a function is vital for CF leaders.


201.01.09 military etiquette

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