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Celebrating the heritage of the 305th AMW on the cusp of transformation

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Melvin Fogle
  • 305th Aerial Port Squadron
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  To celebrate and recognize the history of outstanding contributions by the men and women who have been a part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing and serve as a precursor to our new Joint Base mission, Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th AMW commander, will host a
dining-in here Feb. 27.

As the committee began planning this year's dining-in, a familiar question was posed by our young Airmen. "Excuse me sir, what exactly is a dining-in and what is the intended purpose?" As with most ancient military traditions, the origin of the dining-in is not clear. Some trace the origins of the dining-in to the old English monasteries. Formal dinners are rooted in antiquity, as feasts to honor military victories and individual and unit achievements can be traced back to King Arthur's knights in the sixth century. The Air Force dining-in custom can be traced back to our Army Air Corps days when the late Gen. H. "Hap" Arnold would host his "wing-dings." The dining-in is a formal dinner for the members of a wing, unit or organization.

The purpose of the dining-in is to bring together members of a unit in an atmosphere of camaraderie, good fellowship and social rapport. The basic idea is to enjoy yourself and the company. These occasions are designed to promote a sense of pride in your service and create loyalty. It is also very effective in building high morale and esprit de corps. Commanders are given an opportunity to meet socially with their subordinates, and the event enables military members of all ranks to create bonds of friendship and better working relations through an atmosphere of good fellowship.

Fortunately, despite the obstacles of the 21st century and the transformation of the Air Force to an expeditionary mission, the tradition of dining-in has not died. Veterans of the old days remember and revive the tradition at every opportunity. They recognize the important role these occasions play in preserving the traditions of the Air Force as we develop our leaders of tomorrow. This is an excellent opportunity to bond as a cohesive unit and mentor our Airmen on the importance of observing and sustaining traditions imbued with our Air Force history!