speaker and honored guests, proposes the first toast, and presides over the ceremony. The
President also appoints the Vice President of the Mess.
The Vice addressed as Mr., Miss, or Madam Vice (shortened to Mr/Ms vice in this pamphlet)
is usually a junior officer selected for his/her wit and speaking abilities.
The Vice is the person responsible for the evening. He/she is the first to arrive and the last to
leave. He/she starts the cocktail period by opening the lounge, sounds the dinner chimes at the
appropriate times, delivers the appropriate toasts and keeps the party moving. He/she is also
responsible for testing the main course prior to it being served and announces to the members of
the mess, that it is fit for human consumption. Mr/Ms Vice sits at the end of a table or alone at a
small table on the opposite side of the room facing the President of the mess.
Other officers of the Mess would include:
Committee Chairpersons, are normally appointed by the President of the Mess and tasked
with organizing and executing different aspects of the dining-in. At the Academy the Company
Activity Officer and Activity First Sergeant usually act as the committee chairpersons. The
number and size of the committees vary depending on the purpose of the affair, the extent of
formality sought, and the number of individuals available to serve on the committees. Some
examples and duties for committees could be:
A Protocol Committee would prepare invitations, collect responses, provide biographical
sketches, brief the hosts or cadet escorts when necessary, prepare the printed program or
schedule of events.
A Mess Arrangements Committee would secure the mess hall or dining facility of choice for
the date and time desired. Make arrangements for the menu, public address system, awards,
flags trophies, photographer, payment of mess and bar charges.
A Table Arrangements Committee would take care of place cards, seating, seating charts,
centerpieces, silver, crystal, and china.
3