The decisions at
R. v. Master Seaman R.J. Middlemiss, 2009 CM 1001 , at this link:
http://www.jmc-cmj.forces.gc.ca/dec/2009-eng.asp
(noted in TimBit’s previous post) make for interesting reading.
I particularly noted a frequent use of the phrase “mess dinners were intended to be
esprit de corps events.” Obviously, for MS Middlemass, the specific function he refused to attend did little to improve his “esprit” and I sensed (perhaps incorrectly) that it probably had a similar effect on the fellow junior NCMs in that unit who (as noted in the decision) indicated that they would not have attended if the mess dinner had not been decreed mandatory.
But another thought struck me; are junior NCMs attending (and being forced to attend) mess dinners in a greater frequency than in
years decades past. The word “tradition” is often used when justifying mandatory attendance. During my time in the junior ranks, I attended a mess dinner on only two occasions and both times they were associated with courses.
The first time was the evening that we graduated from basic training in Cornwallis (mid ‘70s). Our instructors told us that this was a very unique event and was happening only because the reviewing officer of the grad parade was a general officer (I don’t remember who) and he liked mess dinners (or more likely the BComd wanted to impress him). In my dimming memory I can’t remember if we were assessed for this function . . . ahh, now that I’m thinking about it, I do remember the instructor sitting across from me (an RCD MCpl) mentioning that the small assessment ($2 or not much more) was “for the pickles”. I also recall that this MCpl said that this was only the second mess dinner he had attended, the other being on his CLC. That also was the only other time as a JR that I attended such a function, the “training” mess dinner on my JLC.
I am a fan of mess dinners (and other mess traditions, having been both a Jnr Ranks PMC and Officers’ Mess Vice) and have never been one to suggest that the tradition be curtailed. However, the tradition had been that mess dinners were focal events for Officers and WOs & Sgts. Even then, there was only infrequent mingling of the two groups. During my Reg Force commissioned service, I semi-recall (that may have something to do with the quality and quantity of the port) only once attending an all ranks mess dinner and even that was very heavily subsidized for the junior NCMs. (I was on an air base at the time and the function was for the BAdm branch.)
I would suggest that (if this is now more frequent) one of the reasons may be that Commanding Officers are faced with too small a critical mass of officers and/or Snr NCMs to make the cost of mess dinners acceptable, so they impose what had been a traditional and acceptable expense to members of the senior messes on junior soldiers who traditionally did not attend mess dinners. When I was the CO of a reserve unit, I was tempted on occasion to follow such a course, however (unlike my fondness for whisky and port) I resisted the temptation. How was “esprit de corps” traditionally encouraged through “social” functions? Usually, there were all-ranks social events throughout the year, some exclusively for serving members, some more formal that included spouses (permanent and temporary), some that included all family members including children. But none were parades requiring uniforms.
