Mess Hall, Chow Hall, or Dining Facility. What do we call it??

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 13:30:38 -0500

I was tell'ing someone last week, I was heading over to the Chow Hall. And they said;"You Mean Mess Hall"; So I ask, "What's in a Name...."

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jan 22 at 2014 1:57 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 13:57:37 -0500

LOL, be flexible. We all grew up in different parts of the country, traditional terms based on branch, etc. All work because they all mean the same. Even shortening it, i.e. DFAC.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2014 11:06 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:06:14 -0500

SFC Markley, I've only ever heard it called a DFAC.  <div><br></div><div>I wonder when the term "DFAC" was created and what the Army called it before then.</div>

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2014 11:17 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 23:17:26 -0500

You forgot the Galley :-D

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Jan 24 at 2014 11:07 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:07:03 -0500

It does not matter what the name is. They all are the same. Try this the next time.

Tell the individual that DFAC, Dining facility, Chow Hall, Mess Hall, and Galley are all the same thing. So what your calling it is historically correct with what ever name it is.

I had to school an airman that worked in the dining facility at Cannon AFB, one time on that. He was still saying its a dining facility. He was a lost cause.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 1:19 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 13:19:50 -0500

SFC, I keep getting weird looks from other students at my college for calling the campus dining hall the DFAC. Anyways, in my little experience we've always eaten "chow" at the "DFAC."

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 3:02 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:02:14 -0500

I'm going to the chow hall!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 6:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:13:08 -0500

Im going to eat! Covers them all. 

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 6:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:14:43 -0500

I've always called it the DFAC, but these Navy guys call it a "Galley". Weird.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 12:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 00:09:33 -0400

Everywhere I have been we have called it a DFAC

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2014 12:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:56:35 -0400

DFAC or Mess Hall.

Response by PO1 Jerry Gray made Jun 18 at 2014 4:53 PM

PO1 Jerry Gray — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:53:39 -0400

Chow Hall

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2014 10:19 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 22:19:30 -0400

Doesn't the Air Force darn near call it cafeteria? Just as they call their barracks dorms??

Response by SSG David Hollingshead made Jun 18 at 2014 10:58 PM

SSG David Hollingshead — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 22:58:26 -0400

i usually vary the word based on the quality of food :)

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 19 at 2014 9:22 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 21:22:34 -0400

For me it was and always will be the Chow Hall. However, now that I am in the Air Force, I have found that the folks that work in FSS and who run the Chow Hall do not like for it to be called the Chow Hall. It is the AeroSpace Dining Facility or DFAC. I get corrected all the time when headed to the Chow Hall.
Sorry, old habits.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 26 at 2014 7:18 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 07:18:22 -0400

Call it the latrine, as long as they serve good food, who cares. :-)

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Jul 26 at 2014 2:23 PM

PFC Zanie Young — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:23:51 -0400

When I was in, it was the mess hall on a chow line. Sometimes it was the chow hall, depending upon where you was. I cannot say for basic, but it was good nonetheless.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 6:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 18:28:50 -0400

I guess it depends on what banch of the service you are in. I have always known it to be the D-FAC.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 6:33 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 18:33:09 -0400

Chow Hall, Mess Deck or Galley. I refuse to say DFAC.

I will also add, because I am a cranky, stubborn, sometimes down right miserable Senior Chief (right SrA Private RallyPoint Member ) I make a point of using my maritime/nautical terms to the hilt whenever I am working with the Army/Air Force or on board a Post or Base.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 11:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 23:25:06 -0400

Chow Hall or DFAC.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 7 at 2014 11:42 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 23:42:13 -0400

Let's put in requests for a new universal name.......Grub Hut?...Choke n Puke?...The Trough?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 12:14 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 00:14:56 -0400

Always have called it chow hall, galley when on ship. To stubborn to change my ways.

Response by CPO Jim Wingate made Sep 3 at 2015 10:31 PM

CPO Jim Wingate — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 22:31:31 -0400

Galley, Messdeck

Response by PO3 Amanda Doughty made Sep 8 at 2015 3:09 AM

PO3 Amanda Doughty — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 03:09:32 -0400

Galley

Response by MCPO Hans Brakob made Nov 11 at 2015 11:21 PM

MCPO Hans Brakob — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 23:21:48 -0500

Mess Deck

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 11:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 23:25:13 -0500

It's the Chow Hall!

Response by CPO David Sharp made Nov 12 at 2015 6:09 AM

CPO David Sharp — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 06:09:50 -0500

The term "mess hall" is taken from the the Spanish word Mesa. This came from the fact that on sailing Ships the plates were square for easy and safe stacking. So they were little flat implements or "mesas". Another off shoot is "getting three squares a day". Many of the jargon used comes from interactions with other Navies over the Centuries.

Response by SCPO Dale Leighton made Nov 23 at 2015 10:27 AM

SCPO Dale Leighton — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:27:42 -0500

The Vietnam era Army were termed Mess Halls. Army also recognizes the term DFAC or Dining Facility. The Air Force terms them as Dining Facilities or DFAC. In Coast Guard and Navy the term is Galley. There were a few other names for the old C-Rations and MRE's

Response by MSgt John Darchangelo made Dec 15 at 2016 4:05 AM

MSgt John Darchangelo — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 04:05:32 -0500

DFAC is what I call it....

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2016 12:27 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:27:35 -0500

Galley

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Dec 21 at 2016 7:07 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 07:07:05 -0500

When I was in the common name was Mess or Chow Hall. Towards the end of my service they were trying to get everyone to call it the Dinning Facility.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Dec 21 at 2016 9:47 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 09:47:17 -0500

I will always call it a chow hall...just grew up that way. In the Air Force I will always call our personnel shop CBPO versus Force Support...old habits die hard.

Response by Sgt Christopher Cody made Dec 24 at 2016 9:54 AM

Sgt Christopher Cody — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 09:54:36 -0500

Its a chow hall

Response by PO3 Don Austin made Dec 24 at 2016 6:16 PM

PO3 Don Austin — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 18:16:04 -0500

I have been out of the military for a long time but when I was in the Coast Guard, 1970 to 1974, we went to the "galley" to eat "chow".

Response by MSgt Paul Smith made Feb 28 at 2017 5:16 AM

MSgt Paul Smith — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 05:16:15 -0500

A mess or mess hall (also called a mess deck aboard ships) is an area where military personnel socialize, eat, and (in some cases) live. Comes from an old French term, over to the British army, then over to us. Originally meant a small portion of food. Chow hall is more modern slang for a place to eat, dining facility comes from the new "modern" service to make it more like the civilian world especially when we started contracting the facilities to civilian contractors to run. I have also eaten in military "mess halls/decks" for all branches of the US military (and many foreign services), in all corners the world as well as on board ships and subs from the mid 1950's with my dad, a Navy commander, until 1996 when I retired from the USAF. I can say for the most part the men and women who worked in putting food out for the troops did a great job, sometimes in the most difficult circumstances.

Response by LCpl Daniel Nilssen made Feb 28 at 2017 7:03 AM

LCpl Daniel Nilssen — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 07:03:13 -0500

Chow hall

Response by SA Gary Williams made Feb 28 at 2017 8:48 AM

SA Gary Williams — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 08:48:16 -0500

It doesn't matter what you call it. a rose is still a rose, regardless of the name. If I go there to eat and I am served food, I'm happy.

Response by SA Gary Williams made Feb 28 at 2017 8:48 AM

SA Gary Williams — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 08:48:19 -0500

It doesn't matter what you call it. a rose is still a rose, regardless of the name. If I go there to eat and I am served food, I'm happy.

Response by SN Timothy Ehrenhaft made Feb 28 at 2017 9:27 AM

SN Timothy Ehrenhaft — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 09:27:14 -0500

Each branch has its own lexicon, just like any nation has its own language. Accept the differences without judgement.. OP, ask that "someone" if they believe the Chinese are just as wrong for calling a red flower "méiguī", while we call that same red flower "rose"... it's following that "someone"'s logic that all jargon should be that "someone"'s jargon...

Response by SrA Mike Mizell made Feb 28 at 2017 9:33 AM

SrA Mike Mizell — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 09:33:33 -0500

I was TACP assigned to the Army at Ft. Polk. My first experience with going to the "chow hall" was quite memorable. I wanted potatoes and then I asked for mac-n-cheese; I was loudly informed that I already had a starch on my plate and to move on down the line. I mumbled, it's not like this in the AF; another loud response. Shortly afterwards I was on separate rations lol. Chow Hall it is for me.

Response by TSgt Scott Zane made Feb 28 at 2017 10:02 AM

TSgt Scott Zane — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:02:57 -0500

Speaking only from USAF perspective, "DFAC" or "Dining Facility" might be the more formally accurate and current name to use. However, I always called it the "chow hall" throughout my career, which i suppose can be considered an informal term and not necessarily a formal name. But if I recall, it really was a formal name in the past. Most others I worked with at the time I retired also still called it chow hall. "Mess Hall" vs "Chow Hall" sounds more like a Marine arguing with an airman over what to call the same place, to me. I say who really cares what it's called so long as you both know what is being talked about.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 28 at 2017 10:06 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:06:39 -0500

Built two recently, was told on more than one occasion by the logistics chief that they are "Dining Facilities". In my youth they were "Mess Halls" and to us young-uns the choke and puke. The new style mess halls are amazing with all the new equipment but are very expensive to build.

Response by LCpl Jason Ryan made Feb 28 at 2017 10:14 AM

LCpl Jason Ryan — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:14:19 -0500

Chow Hall while on land Galley while on ship.

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Feb 28 at 2017 10:30 AM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:30:03 -0500

Chow hall or galley!

Response by SSG Beau Miller made Feb 28 at 2017 10:38 AM

SSG Beau Miller — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:38:20 -0500

I guess being in the Transportation Corps and being on several different types of bases....I've called it all three...including the galley when I was aboard some Fast Sealift vessels

Response by CMSgt Bill Hamilton made Feb 28 at 2017 10:58 AM

CMSgt Bill Hamilton — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:58:22 -0500

Depends on your era of service. When I first came in I ate in Mess and Chow Halls. By the time I left it was a DFAC and if you called it Chow or Mess Hall you could really hurt someone's feelings (LOL). I knew it was time to retire as my day had past. ;)

Response by Sgt David Dombrosky made Feb 28 at 2017 11:22 AM

Sgt David Dombrosky — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:22:53 -0500

Chow Hall 1964

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Feb 28 at 2017 11:45 AM

PO2 Robert Cuminale — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:45:20 -0500

I ate in the Galley. All Sailors eat in the Galley.

Response by Cpl Chris Cargile made Feb 28 at 2017 11:50 AM

Cpl Chris Cargile — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:50:20 -0500

Chow hall. Members of of the MARDET when we were shipboard all called it the chow hall.

Response by Mary Burchard Pikula made Feb 28 at 2017 11:55 AM

Mary Burchard Pikula — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 11:55:53 -0500

Dinner--just don't call me late!!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2017 12:18 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:18:09 -0500

The galley is where the meal is actually prepared. Mess deck would be more appropriate for navy and Coast Guard. However, as long as I knew what you meant, I probably would associate your nomenclature to your branch of service, not an issue to stress over.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 28 at 2017 12:28 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:28:07 -0500

As an Air Force officer I was seldom allowed to eat government-provided meals. We were expected to eat in the Officers Club, other on-base facilities, or go off base for meals. Most of my active duty career I called it a "chow hall." I knew the Navy called the kitchen a "galley" and the place where you ate was a "mess". Brits also referred to the chow hall as a "mess." Best "chow hall" I ate in was at the Prep School for the USAF Academy--winner of several Hennessey Trophies.

Later on as an Army Civilian, I was introduced to the "Dee-Fak" or "DFAC." Short for "dining facility." Best of these I experienced was Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Response by PO1 Charles Babcock made Feb 28 at 2017 12:28 PM

PO1 Charles Babcock — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:28:24 -0500

Mess Deck also was a popular navy comment back in the '80's

Response by Cpl Joseph Wade made Feb 28 at 2017 12:36 PM

Cpl Joseph Wade — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:36:51 -0500

Soldiers have Mess halls, they always leave a mess of garbage behind. Dining facility, cause the air force is just a bunch of fruity civilians. Chow Hall, it's where real men/women go to get chow without leaving a mess behind.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2017 12:37 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:37:27 -0500

Chow Hall

Response by Capt Ray S. O. made Feb 28 at 2017 6:11 PM

Capt Ray S. O. — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 18:11:05 -0500

It was Mess Hall for six years while I was in the Army. For the 16 years I was in the Air Force, I just thought of it as the Chow Hall! ;D

Response by SrA Ray Buccelli made Feb 28 at 2017 6:28 PM

SrA Ray Buccelli — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 18:28:08 -0500

Chow hall

Response by MGySgt Mario Chaves made Feb 28 at 2017 7:27 PM

MGySgt Mario Chaves — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:27:20 -0500

Chow Hall

Response by GySgt Bob Hubauer made Feb 28 at 2017 7:29 PM

GySgt Bob Hubauer — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:29:05 -0500

My troops before I retired it called it Moms!

Response by Cpl Ronald Wiemelt made Feb 28 at 2017 7:31 PM

Cpl Ronald Wiemelt — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:31:25 -0500

It was always know as the chow hall when I was in the Marine Corp in the 70s but some do call it the mess hall in some of the other branches of service

Response by Cpl Roger Boucher made Feb 28 at 2017 7:39 PM

Cpl Roger Boucher — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 19:39:14 -0500

1962-1966 Mess hall.we pulled 30 days mess duty and did all the work. No cilivians.

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Feb 28 at 2017 8:05 PM

GySgt Melissa Gravila — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 20:05:50 -0500

It doesn't matter- it changes every few years... during the 16 years I was in, it went from chow Hall to mess Hall to dining hall to dining facility back to chow Hall. It's 6 of one half dozen of another
S/F

Response by SPC Jason Rueb made Feb 28 at 2017 9:05 PM

SPC Jason Rueb — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 21:05:26 -0500

DFAC is what we always called it. I think is depends on branch and location. But in the end who cares just don't call me late.

Response by PO1 Clyde Plunkett made Feb 28 at 2017 9:42 PM

PO1 Clyde Plunkett — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 21:42:25 -0500

Austrian born French Scouts and French Schools in France + French Indochina + French Central West Africa translation of terms was kitchen for where food was prepared and where served/eaten was Chow Hall Came to US army run boarding high school all instructors referred to cooking area as kitchen older instructors referred to serving/eating area as Chow Hall the younger ones Mess Hall After joining Navy then being sent to Fleet Marine training also on shore or in the bush mostly heard Chow hall & kitchen. Aboard ship Civilian ones as passenger mostly heard crew refer to mess hall & galley for kitchen in Navy on ships it was mostly Mess Hall & Galley and the titles on the sanitation inspection report was titled Dinning Facility Inspection Report BUT it was in 2 separate sections titled Galley and Mess Deck. After Navy went to Merchant Marines as civilian and it was same terminology. Before coming to US both my parents to tell me the meal was ready often said go get chow or chow is ready.
SO on shore/land for me it is Chow Hall for serving/eating area with Kitchen for prep/cook area and on any ship it is Mess Deck for serving/eating area and Galley for cook/prep area.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Feb 28 at 2017 11:19 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 23:19:24 -0500

Mess decks is what we call them on Navy Ships.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2017 11:27 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 23:27:43 -0500

Just try Mess Decks when talking to a sailor. The Galley is the kitchen. He'll and for you O types is it always a wardroom?

Response by TSgt Mario Guajardo made Mar 1 at 2017 12:44 AM

TSgt Mario Guajardo — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:44:04 -0500

Call it whatever you want and don't worry about what others want to call it

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 1 at 2017 12:50 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:50:01 -0500

Mess Hall

Response by TSgt Michael Micek made Mar 1 at 2017 12:52 AM

TSgt Michael Micek — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:52:18 -0500

All of the above.

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Mar 1 at 2017 1:24 AM

LCpl Todd Houston — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 01:24:25 -0500

All I know is that you eat chow in a mess hall, mess in a chow hall and the Air Force eats in a Dining Facility !!

Response by Sgt Albert Castro made Mar 1 at 2017 2:09 AM

Sgt Albert Castro — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:09:04 -0500

Chow Hall on base. Mess tent in the field in 74. Now get your tray and move down the line. I'm hungry.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Mar 1 at 2017 2:09 AM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 02:09:11 -0500

We just said we were going to mess back in the 70s. I guess the Hall was added for formal occasions or the base directory display.

Response by SGT Ron Murphy made Mar 1 at 2017 3:03 AM

SGT Ron Murphy — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 03:03:07 -0500

When I was active duty, it was the "Mess Hall" or "Chow Hall".
Today, they call it the DFAC.
I have 3 kids active duty (Capt., SFC, Spc.)

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 1 at 2017 11:16 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 11:16:53 -0500

I always used Chow Hall, "Mess Hall" just sounds dirty. LOL

Response by PO3 Ron Whitton made Mar 1 at 2017 3:55 PM

PO3 Ron Whitton — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:55:40 -0500

66-70 it was the galley

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Mar 2 at 2017 7:52 AM

GySgt Charles O'Connell — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 07:52:03 -0500

Each service has their own terminology. Marines eat in the Mess Hall, they live in the Barracks, they Shipover, etc...

Response by Cpl Bill Johnson made Mar 2 at 2017 12:13 PM

Cpl Bill Johnson — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 12:13:56 -0500

We called it chow hall in my day.

Response by PO1 Timothy Harcey made Mar 2 at 2017 11:27 PM

PO1 Timothy Harcey — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 23:27:40 -0500

In the Navy it is the Officer Mess, Chiefs Mess and Enlisted Mess on ships. When your on a Marine Corps Base or Naval Base it is a Mess Hall. If your on a Army Base it is a Chow Hall and If it is a Air Force Base it is a Dinning Facility. In the end it really makes no difference at all what it is called. When you have a empty belly and or your going to eat just go to the place with the best food. It is called Texas Road House. Have a nice conversation.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2017 11:18 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 23:18:11 -0500

DEFAC ...but i like Chow Hall

Response by GySgt Gregory Robeson made Mar 7 at 2017 9:40 AM

GySgt Gregory Robeson — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:40:52 -0500

I never could get over the term "mess hall". It's rarely a mess. I eat chow - would even try eating a mess. I wouldn't want to sit in a mess either. Just sayin'. In my day, it was a Chow Hall. Though, when I served on ship for a piece, it was the "Officer's Mess" and the "Chief's Mess"....and as a young Corporal at the time, I could see why they called it that on the ship. Because that's how the Officer's and Chief's left it!!!!! :)

Response by TSgt Erica Claus-numsali made Mar 12 at 2017 3:41 PM

TSgt Erica Claus-numsali — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 15:41:06 -0400

When I first enlisted, I went to the "chow hall", and then was told it was a "dining facility". It didn't matter to me what the name was, even though part of my career field was in good service.

Response by MSgt Bill Rentz made Mar 23 at 2017 4:11 PM

MSgt Bill Rentz — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 16:11:18 -0400

For me it always was and ever will be the chow hall. I remember when the Air Force renamed them Aerospace Dining Facilities. The SOS still tasted like SOS.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Mar 30 at 2017 1:16 PM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:16:47 -0400

Mess hall, chow hall, whatever; it's not an issue. You know what it designates and who cares to the point that it matters to the whole anyway.

Response by CSM Andrew Perrault made Mar 30 at 2017 4:56 PM

CSM Andrew Perrault — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:56:22 -0400

In my day it was Mess hall

Response by SCPO Dale Leighton made Mar 31 at 2017 1:22 PM

SCPO Dale Leighton — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 13:22:36 -0400

In the sea services there term commonly used is Galley. On land I usually found my self telling my supervisor "I'm was going to crab some chow" or if I was with company "Do you want to grab some chow" I write in a Space-A travel blog and the term or acronym seen more often is DFAC when they talk about dining facilities, mess hall. galley etc.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 3 at 2017 6:19 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:19:15 -0400

Mess Deck on the Ship!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 3 at 2017 6:50 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 06:50:48 -0400

Mess hall.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 3 at 2017 7:14 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 07:14:13 -0400

Mess Hall - You had to do "Monkey bars" to gain admittance to this hallowed place in Fort Lewis back in 1965,best job on KP ,DRO ,worst ,grease pit ,white towel on end of bunk signified to Fire Watch you had a 3:30 am appointment with the Mess sergeant,believe me not you're touchy freely kind of guy!

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 3 at 2017 10:09 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 10:09:15 -0400

What are those civilians doing serving in a MC chow/mess hall? Looks like a Luby's. (used both expressions back in the day)

Response by Sgt George Lawrence made Apr 3 at 2017 2:40 PM

Sgt George Lawrence — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:40:14 -0400

Chow hall in the Corps (I guess technically it was the Mess Hall). Only ate at an Air Force "dining facility" once as we were waiting for our Marine Corps transport aircraft (that in itself was amazing, instead of heading to the ships). I was amazed. They had waiters in both the NCO and enlisted mess, even tablecloths. And napkins! Can you believe it?

Response by MSgt Jack Cochran made Apr 18 at 2017 11:26 PM

MSgt Jack Cochran — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 23:26:54 -0400

27 yrs AF, been retired almost 6 yrs, will always be chow hall

Response by CW3 Chuck Huddleston made Apr 20 at 2017 4:35 PM

CW3 Chuck Huddleston — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 16:35:06 -0400

It will always be a mess hall to me, that's what I learned and never had a reason to change it. Army '62 - '83.

Response by SFC Frank Burns made Apr 21 at 2017 9:03 PM

SFC Frank Burns — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 21:03:59 -0400

How about Slop-Shoot? Some call it the DFAC, and that makes me cring every time I here some one say it. It took a long time but I got slit of the guts I worked with to drop DFAC in favor of calling it the Mess Hall or Chow Hall.

Response by PO2 Mike Vignapiano made Apr 21 at 2017 9:11 PM

PO2 Mike Vignapiano — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 21:11:19 -0400

Hmmm, onboard ships I recall calling it the mess deck. On shore it was the chow hall. My Marine buddies always said chow hall.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2017 8:52 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 20:52:26 -0400

Raf it's simply called the Mess, Jr's then SNCO's and WO's then finally Officers, the standard of food increases from one to the other inversely to the price of the beer.

Response by MCPO Hans Brakob made Sep 26 at 2017 5:13 PM

MCPO Hans Brakob — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:13:39 -0400

“Dining Facility” must be an Air Force term, the civilian branch of the Armed Forces.

Response by Cpl Daniel Davis made Sep 26 at 2017 8:32 PM

Cpl Daniel Davis — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 20:32:36 -0400

It's a Chow Hall. End of discussion.

Response by SGT Peter Hayes made Sep 27 at 2017 12:42 PM

SGT Peter Hayes — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 12:42:51 -0400

we called the mess Hall or chow hall while I was in. When I went to Iraq as a DOD contractor I almost starved to death because I couldn't figure out what a DAFC was.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Sep 27 at 2017 1:10 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:10:48 -0400

C-rats

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 28 at 2017 6:48 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 06:48:05 -0500

I suppose it’s where you are.. I picked up quickly when I came back in the AF to call it Din’g facility..
And being a Cook, I set the example.. some called it the BFDF.. But I will not go there.. We had good food and good selection at our facilities.. I didn’t serving boxed potatoes(instant mashed... We did get in a good brand but I still prefer real.. I was on the menu committee.. I told my fellow Airmen (as a general term) that putting oleo margarine out there is like serv’g petroleum... it just goes through the motions but does nothing for the body.. it doesn’t know how to use it.. We ordered it minimally just to keep the p.c. types happy.
We had good equipment.. grinders ‘n’ syuch..
We’d get in some Semi fair chuck roasts.. we’d run
Them through and do one grind and make burger steaks.. 1/3 Lbr’s.. Sautéed Shroomers n onions
Had to keep them separate.. some didn’t like one or the other.. Black bean burgers? Go eat at the hospital if they can get in(their facility was small, limited seat’g ). We had a light menu.. (‘nuff said there)... At bkfst you got one patty of sausage or one link.. but it was big! 3 Oz. You got a nice slice of real ham.. just off the bone sliced on the line(Sun and Thursday.. s’times we rotated the days.. ). Red eye gravy .. o-h-h y-e-a-h ! Real biscuits ! (Bakers made enough dough.. and had ready.. we baked as needed, s’times we had a a-la king type entree and served biscuits with it) Turkey bacon.. what’s that? Go to the hospital.. (sausage patty was beef with sage season’g.. , hash brown shreds potatoes or sliced.. we had both.. if you went away hungry, it’s your own fault.. eh? Yeah, I went off on a tangent... so be it!

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Mar 12 at 2018 8:17 PM

TSgt Joe C. — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:17:40 -0400

DFAC

Response by MSG Raymond Davis made Oct 7 at 2022 10:15 AM

MSG Raymond Davis — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:15:06 -0400

I always called it "mess Hall".

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 21 at 2022 8:58 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:58:04 -0400

I always called it the DFAC

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2022 9:21 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 21:21:21 -0400

Mess hall.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Nov 23 at 2022 5:14 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:14:00 -0500

Dining Facility!

Response by 1SG Patrick Burke made Nov 23 at 2022 5:27 PM

1SG Patrick Burke — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:27:15 -0500

Sick Call

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Nov 23 at 2022 7:17 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:17:07 -0500

I've called all three before. Just depends what branch You're in.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Nov 23 at 2022 7:25 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:25:38 -0500

Does the "Roach Coach" count?

Response by MSgt Wayne Patterson made Dec 4 at 2022 10:27 AM

MSgt Wayne Patterson — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 10:27:38 -0500

You must have been talking to an airman. The Air Force has often referred to military eating establishment as a Dining Facility. Due mainly to the differently quality of life initiatives undertaken in the past.

Response by SPC Rick Price made Dec 4 at 2022 3:26 PM

SPC Rick Price — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 15:26:20 -0500

All the above!