What is an Officers’ Mess ...?

The Officers’ Mess 

Musings of a Military Veteran

MESS = MAINTENANCE OF EQUAL SOCIAL STATUS
Musings on the “Military Class System”
By
VIKRAM KARVE

Owing to the nature of their warfighting role – since ancient history – and right till the present day – military forces throughout the world are “class based” organisations. 

Hence – the “Military Class System” is still prevalent in Indian Armed Forces – and indeed this military class system exists in armed forces throughout the world.

Military Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) have 2 Classes:

1. Officers

and 

2. PBOR 

PBOR is an acronym for “Personnel Below Officer Rank” which includes Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen) 

PBOR are also called by other names like “enlisted men” etc. 

(Also – in the Indian Army – there is a peculiar class called Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) which is a colonial legacy of the British Raj)

But – since this is a generic article which deals with all Defence Officers of the 3 Armed Forces – this aspect is not quite relevant here.

All Officers belong to one class.

That is why I was quite surprised to hear some Army Officers say that someone had proposed a bizarre idea to divide Officers into two classes (“Colonels and Below” & “Brigadiers and above”) and have separate Officers Messes for the two classes.

It is laughable that some top-brass feel that Colonels are “Junior” Officers – whereas in earlier days even Lieutenant Colonels were considered “Senior” Officers.

Maybe this is a result of devaluation of rank due to repeated Cadre Reviews – especially AVS 2006.

Hey – I have digressed.

We were talking about the bizarre idea of having separate Officers Messes for “Senior Officers” and “Junior Officers”.

This prompts me to delve into my “Humor in Uniform” archives and pull out this article I had written 5 years ago on “DEFINITION AND MEANING OF OFFICERS MESS (Maintenance of Equal Social Status)”

Read on – and do tell me if you agree with my views – or you think that my views are “antiquated gibberish” of an old fogey... Ha Ha ...

ARMY OFFICERS MESS and NAVY WARDROOM
MAINTENANCE OF EQUAL SOCIAL STATUS – NO PLACE FOR VIP CULTURE
Ramblings of a Navy Veteran
By
VIKRAM KARVE

WARDROOM

Sometime ago – a young Army Officer asked me why a Navy Officers’ Mess is called a Wardroom.

I had asked the same question to a senior Naval Officer long ago – in the 1970’s – when I joined the Navy.

Here is the answer:

The Genesis of the term WARDROOM 
(“Wardroom” is a “Navy Officers’ Mess”)

In the 18^th Century – in the British Royal Navy – warships had a large compartment called “WARDROBE”.

This compartment – the “Wardrobe” – was used for storing “prizes of war”, booty and valuables, plundered from foreign ships at sea and looted in conquests on shores of other countries.

The wardrobe was generally located near the officers’ accommodation (cabins).

When the wardrobe was empty, especially during the outward voyage, the officers began using this “wardrobe” compartment for dining and lounging, to have their meals and to congregate and pass time together. 

As the days of plundering and looting ended – the wardrobe was used exclusively by officers as a lounge and for eating meals.

Gradually – the wardrobe became the officers’ mess and lounge, and having been elevated from a “closet” to a “room”, instead of “Ward Robe” it was now called the “Ward Room”.

Whereas – Officers dined in the Wardroom – Sailors dined in “Messes” on board Warships.

When it first appeared in English, “mess” meant a portion of food (from the Old French word “mes” which means “a dish”).

Later – “mess” came to refer to a group of people, who sat together at a meal and were served from the same dishes. 

In warships – a group of sailors would sit together at one table and were served from the same dishes – in a “mess”, and those who habitually sat together were messmates.

There is one “wardroom” for officers on a warship – but – depending on the size of the ship – there may be many separate department-wise “mess-rooms” for junior sailors – and – one or two senior sailors’ mess-rooms.

Soon – the term “mess-room” was itself later contracted to “mess”.

So now – in the Navy – a modern warship has a “wardroom” for Officers – and – “messes” for Sailors. 

In the Navy – even commissioned establishments ashore (Stone Frigates) are referred to as “ships” – and therefore – even Naval Shore Establishments have “Wardrooms”.

The Army and Air Force have Officers’ Messes.

To put it in a nutshell – let us say that – a “Wardroom” is a “Navy Officers’ Mess”.

I told you, above – the genesis of the term “MESS”.

However – in the article below – I shall give a completely different connotation to the term “MESS”.

Dear Reader – especially Military Officers and Veterans – do let me know your views on this meaning of “MESS”:

OFFICERS’ MESS

WHAT IS AN OFFICERS’ MESS...?

If you have served in the Army, Navy or Air Force – or are familiar with Military Life – I am sure you know what is an OFFICERS MESS

In the Navy – an Officers Mess is called WARDROOM or Wardroom Mess.

(I have explained the genesis of the Naval term WARDROOM above).

There are two words in the term OFFICERS MESS

The first word OFFICERS is the plural of Officer – and surely you know what the term “OFFICER” means – especially in the context of the Military.

But – do you know what the word MESS stands for...?

Maybe you know.

But – in case you don’t know – then let me tell you what the term MESS means.

Actually – the word MESS is an acronym.

The acronym MESS is the short form for Maintenance of Equal Social Status.

Yes:

MESS = MAINTENANCE OF EQUAL SOCIAL STATUS

The very aim of an Officers Mess’ is to maintain Equal Social Status among all its members – irrespective of their ranks.

Long back – during a party – I heard an Admiral once say:

“All Officers have equal social status. 

Ranks are for administrative purposes only...”

If I recall correctly – he attributed this maxim to Field Marshal Cariappa.

Field Marshal Cariappa probably felt that excessive rank consciousness among officers and their families at social functions would adversely affect camaraderie among officers.

As a consequence – such blatant display of rank discrimination would damage cohesion of the officer cadre.

The “Military Class System” is still prevalent in Indian Armed Forces – and indeed this “military class system” exists in Armed Forces throughout the world.

In the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) there are two classes:

1. Officers

and 

2. PBOR (Personnel Below Officer Rank which includes Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen)

All officers belong to one class.

That is why – in an Officers Mess – all members are equal – and all officers who are members of the mess have the same social status – irrespective of the ranks and positions they hold outside the Mess. 

ALL MILITARY OFFICERS HAVE EQUAL SOCIAL STATUS

In the Army – there is a saying: 

“Rank Has Its Privileges” (acronym RHIP).

But – RHIP is outside the Officers Mess. 

Yes – Rank may give you privileges outside the Officers Mess – but inside the Mess – all Officers enjoy Equal Social Status.

Hence – all Officers – especially the Senior Officers – must remember that RHIP operates outside the Mess or Wardroom.

Inside the Mess – it is all about comradeship, friendship and fellowship – and that is why all members enjoy equal social status.

Since all Officers enjoy Equal Social Status – there is no place for “VIP Culture” inside the Officers’ Mess.

FUNCTIONS OF AN OFFICERS MESS

An Officers’ Mess has 3 main functions:

1. It serves as a home for single officers (in-living members) where they live, eat and can entertain friends.

2. For married officers and their families – the officers’ mess serves as a social club where they can gather for moments of relaxation and recreation and bonhomie with fellow officers and their families. A good mess has many facilities for sports and pastimes.

3. For a ship or unit – the wardroom or officers mess is the centre of social life. 

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Each Defence Service has its own unique customs and traditions pertaining to wardrooms and officers messes.

In the Navy – the Captain is not a member of the Ship’s Wardroom – and customarily – the Captain messes separately. 

The Captain or Admiral customarily enters the wardroom by invitation only.  

The senior-most member of the mess on board a ship is designated PMC (President Mess Committee) – and – the PMC is the Head of the Wardroom.

The Mess is a place for Officers to let their hair down and relax in a cosy atmosphere and foster bonhomie. 

While it is courteous to show respect in a subtle manner to your seniors – the disgusting spectacle of junior officers fawning upon senior officers – or appearing obsequious – needs to be avoided in an Officers Mess.

In an Officers Mess – there must be absolutely no tension due to rank-consciousness. 

All members of the Officers Mess must interact freely and without inhibitions.

A good wardroom or officers mess has a stress-free happy high-spirited lively atmosphere which is conducive for promoting camaraderie and esprit de corps among officers. 

There is a saying: 

“A Happy Wardroom is a Happy Ship...”

Maybe it is the same in the Army and Air Force too – a Happy Officers’ Mess indicates a happy unit.

THERE IS NO PLACE FOR “VIP CULTURE” IN MILITARY OFFICERS MESSES

Unfortunately – a medieval feudal culture – a legacy of our colonial past – still prevails in our armed forces – particularly in the army.

This Feudal Mindset breeds a “VIP Culture”

This “VIP Culture” manifests itself in various forms in Military Officers Messes.

There is separate luxurious“VIP” accommodation – separate extravagant food and exclusive booze for the so-called “VIPs”

Also – there is a tendency for some Senior Officers to “freeload” – they want their juniors to subsidise their food and drink and lavish extravagances. 

Just like “Feudal Lords” – some Senior Officers mistakenly think that Freeloading in their Birthright.

As I said earlier – all officers belong to the same class and enjoy equal status.

So – at least in Military Officers Messes – there is no place for such “VIP Culture” 

All Officers – irrespective of rank – must eat the same food and enjoy the same facilities.

The next time you go to an Officers Mess – please do not forget that the abbreviation “MESS” stands for “MAINTENANCE OF EQUAL SOCIAL STATUS”

An Officers Mess is a happy place where you can forget about rank differences and interact freely and informally with your fellow officers.

I have had the best of times and made the best of friends in Navy Wardrooms and Army Officers Messes. 

From time to time – I have been telling you about my glorious days in the Navy – and I am sure you have read a few of those “humor in uniform” nostalgic yarns I keep writing – right here in my blog.

Till next time – Cheers and Godspeed !!!

VIKRAM KARVE

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Revised and updated version of my article earlier posted online by me Vikram Karve around 5 years ago on Saturday, March 17, 2012 in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog - details below:

Posted by Vikram Karve at 3/17/2012 10:50:00 PM at url: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2012/03/mess-maintenance-of-equal-social-status.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/05/mess-maintenance-of-equal-social-status.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/army-officers-mess-and-navy-wardroom.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/10/officers-mess-no-place-for-vip-culture.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/06/army-officers-mess-and-navy-wardroom.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/officers-mess.html etc