377 TH AIR BASE WING Combat dining out event scheduled for April 29

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  The 377th Air Base Wing will hold a combat dining out at the guard maintenance hangar April 29, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Event ticket prices are rank-base. They are $10 for E-6 and below and $15 for E-7 and above. The barbecue meal will include a choice of two meats and two sides. Included in the price will be a memento. The dress for the event is an expendable combat-related uniform. For tickets contact your unit representative.

The origin of the dining in/out tradition is not clear. These dinners are rooted in antiquity, as far back as the Roman legions and Viking warlords. The dinners were brought to America by the British, where George Washington borrowed these traditions for the Continental Army.

All military branches have formal military dining traditions. The Air Force custom began in the 1930s, with General "Hap" Arnold's "wing-dings." Those events fostered close bonds between Air Corps officers and their military counterparts in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

The dining in is the most formal aspect of Air Force social events and includes only uniformed Airmen. In later years, the dining out has been added, to include spouses and guests. The combat dining in/out is the newest of the dining events. It incorporates a much less formal tone to the dining in traditions, including less formal "combat dress." The only limits are the imagination of the planning committee.

"I think this tradition is a great way for Airmen and their guests to enhance the camaraderie felt by the 377th Air Base Wing," said Col. Maness, 377th ABW commander. "I look forward to a great evening of fun and good food while everyone listens to great music."

warlords. The dinners were brought to America by the British, where George Washington borrowed these traditions for the Continental Army.

All military branches have formal military dining traditions. The Air Force custom began in the 1930s, with General "Hap" Arnold's "wing-dings." Those events fostered close bonds between Air Corps officers and their military counterparts in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

The dining in is the most formal aspect of Air Force social events and includes only uniformed Airmen. In later years, the dining out has been added, to include spouses and guests. The combat dining in/out is the newest of the dining events. It incorporates a much less formal tone to the dining in traditions, including less formal "combat dress." The only limits are the imagination of the planning committee.

"I think this tradition is a great way for Airmen and their guests to enhance the camaraderie felt by the 377th Air Base Wing," said Col. Maness, 377th ABW commander. "I look forward to a great evening of fun and good food while everyone listens to great music."