Mess Dress, do you have it?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:04:25 -0500

I the Air Force Mess Dress is mandatory for Officers and optional for enlisted. For SNCO's it becomes a defacto requirement as any SNCO showing up to an event in semi for formal is given the "crazy eye" by all the Chiefs and their SNCO peers as being "that guy."

Ii have had mine since I was a SrA and take my folk aside around that same rank and ask them if they plan on making the Air Force a career? If they are, I encourage them to invest in a mess dress. Most initially balk at the roughly $500 price tag. I ask they if they have a STAR card, which they always do, and then ask them about if they know about the clothing sales side of the card, which most don't! I then run through some basic math with them. The average Airman makes E7 in 15-18 year. Assuming they go to 4 events a year that would require mess dress (and that is generous) they would wear it only 20 times when they become retirement eligible. Now if they got it when they got a line number for E5 (4-5 years) and only wore it once a year till they became a SNCO they would get an additionally 10 wears out of it at a minimum! Be it an ALS graduation, AF ball, dining in, dining out, or order of the sword induction.

Outside of getting more wear for the buck, seeing a young SrA/SSgt with mess dress does set a positive impression on Sr Leaders. You have set yourself above your peers and visibly stand out IN A GOOD WAY!

Finally, a mess dress doesn't have to be expensive. The airman's attic gets them on a pretty regular basis and dry cleaners sell unclaimed ones for the cost of the tab!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 7:11 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:11:47 -0500

Hopefully the AF won't change their dress uniform. That can change your cost calculations!

Although in fairness, I don't believe the Army changed its Mess Dress, only the Dress Greens.

Response by SSG Jeremy Siebenaller made Nov 8 at 2014 7:16 PM

SSG Jeremy Siebenaller — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:16:44 -0500

I always thought Class A's were the bees knees...Until I was tasked as the Brigade CSM honor guard and had to purchase my first set of Dress Blues. Then I felt like some super hero! You have the math figured out and I sure as hell wish I had a squared away NCO to help me realize the math of it like you did! Kudos to you Senior!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 7:23 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:23:08 -0500

Nope. I'll get one later down the road... I'm too busying purchasing ABU bottoms to replace mine roughly 4 times a year, and I need new boots twice a year, plus replacing any issued gear I lost/someone took because I left it somewhere. I do intend to get it, but not yet.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 9:49 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:49:17 -0500

I have not purchased Myers Dress yet but do plan on doing so very soon. It is totally worth it when planning on staying in. I wanted to purchase it several years ago but ended up talking myself out of it because of the price. Sometimes that price is worth spending to ensure you stand out.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 10:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 22:32:58 -0500

I've had mine since I was an E-6. Had both the Dinner Dress Blue and White in the Coast Guard. As soon as I transitioned to the Army I picked up the Mess Dress.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 11:59 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 23:59:53 -0500

I wish I had it.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 7:47 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 07:47:03 -0500

I have had one since I was an E6. Had to go to a black tie wedding, so I purchased Blue Mess Dress. I do not have the White Mess Dress. I do not regret it at all, I where it every year at the Navy Ball.

Response by SSgt Amanda Boyd made Nov 11 at 2014 4:19 PM

SSgt Amanda Boyd — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:19:49 -0500

So I'd like some input; assuming I make SSgt next year, I was thinking about starting to piece together mess dress. Is it "too much" for a SSgt to wear? I'm big on going to formal functions when the opportunity presents itself, and I'm planning for a career. However, I can't exactly say that the female mess dress is really that flattering, and at the last Ball, it was about 70-30 for women wearing semi-formal vs. mess dress.

Response by SGT James LeFebvre made Jan 11 at 2015 9:17 PM

SGT James LeFebvre — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:17:32 -0500

Have it (kinda obvious, since it's in my profile pic, lol). I did get some nice comments from senior NCOs and officers about having one and looking sharp at events.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 11:20 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:20:09 -0500

If I can get back in, I will DEFINITELY purchase a set!!! I currently help out w/ the flag line for our Mid-Missouri Honor Flight & am considering purchasing the elements that I'm missing from my blues to make it an "honor guard"-type uniform (ascot, white gloves, etc).

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 11:46 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:46:37 -0500

Yes, it's necessary for going to ALS graduations and such. I always throught it was a little silly that we have service dress AND mess dress, but I'm sure there are plenty here who disagree.

Response by A1C Alan Wilbar made Jan 20 at 2018 6:46 PM

A1C Alan Wilbar — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 18:46:06 -0500

Great story - While conducting a lobby WWII weapons display (in OD's)and greeting guests at a military ball, noticed an AF major general, who shall go nameless, approaching. Noticed his epaulettes were upside down! Realizing he was headed for a table with other general officers, who would NEVER let him forget his faux pas, I ushered him into an anteroom, excused myself,requested permission to rouch and unsnapped them and turned them around. He offered his hand, thanking me, and like a magician his personal challenge coin slid into my hand. Never saw him retrieve it. Saluted.

Response by PO1 Cassiopeia Goldenstein made Mar 20 at 2018 5:54 PM

PO1 Cassiopeia Goldenstein — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:54:13 -0400

My mess dress is now a tuxedo with miniature medals.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 10 at 2021 8:43 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:43:18 -0400

But of course! All senior NCO's and Field Grade Officers should.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Sep 10 at 2021 8:49 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:49:51 -0400

Late response, but I own mess dress. When I earned promotion to Major way back in 2014, I chose to purchase for future formal occasions. It was enjoyable to wear for military ball (photo attached)

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 10 at 2021 10:32 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:32:12 -0400

While I agree that E7 and above, even senior E6s should make the investment, for Junior NCOs and below it is not necessary, nor does it make financial sense. Married or single Junior service embers do not make that type of money, not to mention the constant change in style by Senior Leadership. Just my opionion.