Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen: Do you have strange rules of items prohibited at your galley, dining room or Defac in the USA that are silly?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:45:07 -0400

I am currently going to an Army Base that prohibits backpacks and water bottles due to 'Safety' concerns. The Soldiers who go to this dining facility are going through an NCO Academy and I am going through Field Grade Officer class. I am in CONUS. I am not sure what risk to safety that brings. We all present Government ID cards to dine. I suspect they fear WMDS or something? Very silly, right?

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Jul 21 at 2016 7:47 PM

SGM Billy Herrington — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:47:25 -0400

Water bottles are a sanitation issue with the DFAC. You drink from bottle then put it up to the nozzle or whatever fill device, it touches where your lips did. 15 people before you did the same. Etc etc. that's the explanation I received once about the no water bottles.

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Jul 21 at 2016 7:52 PM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:52:42 -0400

This isn't an answer to your exact question but it is a bit funny. My USAF unit attended an Army Dining-In at Hq VII Corps at Kelly Barracks in Stuttgart GE in the mid 1980s. One of the rules of the Mess was no outside alcohol was allowed. When the Dining-In started, the Mess Sgt at Arms inspected the room for rule violations. He came straight to our table, lifted the tablecloth and retrieved a 6-pack of beer that 'someone' had duct-taped under our table. We were all sent to the Grog bowl... What a great setup!

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 21 at 2016 9:34 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:34:56 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Isn't usually a WMD that you take OUT of the mess hall, not into the mess hall.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 21 at 2016 11:23 PM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 23:23:20 -0400

When I was TAD to Naval Station Norfolk, the base galley made me take my Dungaree jacket (obviously a long time ago if the Navy was still wearing Dungarees, LOL) off because "no jackets in the galley." When I asked why I couldn't wear an authorized uniform item, I was told something like "because we need to see that you're wearing a clean uniform." Uh... even if my uniform shirt was dirty, my clean jacket covered it so what's the problem again???

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Jul 22 at 2016 12:38 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:38:07 -0400

The only strange rule I have encountered thus far, was we were not allowed to go to the PX at DLI after we had been at PT. They said it was unsanitary since we had just worked out in a field that all the deer took a dump in. If it was THAT unsanitary, why did they allow us to do push-ups and sit-ups there?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 12:43 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:43:43 -0400

Sir,

As far as its been explained to me, water bottles are forbidden due to field sanitation concerns as well as a cost-saving measure as discussed in previous comments. In addition, SM's often try to fill up personal containers with "to-go" drinks that the DFAC does not receive budgetary compensation for.

I've been given three reasons for the no backpacks rule; first, that it presents a tripping/fire hazard. Our DFACs on Schofield allow you to check backpacks with the headcount and are placed in a separate closet area for safekeeping/storage. If SMs were to bring them in, half the chairs would have backpacks nearby, which can potentially cause problems during a fire escape.

Secondly, it presents a budgetary concern. The DFACs are typically compensated a flat $ amount per diner served, regardless of how much the diner consumes. So if I, being a thrifty young Specialist, decide to load my backpack up with some fresh fruits, juice boxes, cereal, and what-have-you, the DFAC loses money.

Lastly, it's a security concern. Especially in the wake of Fort Hood, there is a very real and present threat of insider attacks. It's not just a HUMINT/CI scare tactic; often, disgruntled soldiers with access to and knowledge of explosives make threats against populated places such as DFACs.

Those combined make for a pretty compelling argument against backpacks, in my eyes. Sadly, all too often we find ourselves executing orders in the absence of explanation, despite there being very reasonable logic behind it. *cue Army recruitment commercial theme song*

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 22 at 2016 12:49 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:49:43 -0400

I don't recall any strange rules like that in chow halls, other than they didn't like it when someone hung a bra over the dual outlets of the milk dispenser in Da Nang.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 22 at 2016 12:50 AM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:50:54 -0400

Alcohol! Go figure, some asshole drives his ship onto a reef (the Exxon Valdez) and now none of us can drink!

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Jul 22 at 2016 12:51 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:51:23 -0400

I would venture that after Ft. Hood, no one gets a pass...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 1:46 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 01:46:16 -0400

Backpacks are usually not allowed because of the bulk. TRADOC DFACs tend to be high use and crowded. If worn, you may bump someone behind you standing up. If on the floor, it is a possible tripping hazard; especially with a blind spot a tray may cause. Imagine what it would be like with 30 40, 50 or more soldiers in there with backpacks.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 22 at 2016 6:25 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 06:25:54 -0400

Never had the problem. Sometimes snuck in McDonalds food.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 8:55 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:55:23 -0400

12 years in service Played Dirt Sailor some so here is my knowledge about why these rules exist.
1: Train how you fight. I know it seems silly state side to be worried about a backpack. But when you hit the sandbox and you have a multinational force eating in the same dfac its a bad time to start preaching no backpacks. SO they start that early on and when you hit that lovely area you know to watch out for anyone with a backpack, they will stand out. Better that than a boom.

2: Water bottles is a health issue. Not all are the same size and not all will fit in the machines with out touching the nozzle. Add in the rule you can not take food OUT of the dfac so why would you be allowed to take juice, soda, tea, ect ect. We both know people would not just use the water.

Every rule exists because some moron did it. They may be dumb to you but there is or was a logical reason at one time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 9:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 09:54:05 -0400

I was moving through Kuwait from Afghanistan. I was in civilian clothes and had my sunglasses on my head. A private asked me to take them off my head. I was confused but complied and placed them on my tray. The PVT then said I could not have them on my tray. I then had to ask if there was a reason or a written policy against sunglasses. He said a CSM gave the order and it was so they wouldn't fall in my food. Really? How does any Sergeant major making those kind of rules justify their pay check? What kind of important responsibilities are they shirking when they come up with insane things like that?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 5:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:42:44 -0400

none of theses

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 22 at 2016 8:42 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:42:11 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member I suspect the "no back pack" rule is a hold over from a DFAC IED attack in Mosul. http://www.latimes.com/la-122204mosul_lat-story.html

Blast Likely a Suicide Bombing

The explosion that killed 22 people in a U.S. military mess hall in northern Iraq apparently was an inside job by a suicide bomber who managed to elude multiple layers of security, senior military officials said Wednesday.

Response by PO2 John Driskill made Apr 15 at 2020 12:39 PM

PO2 John Driskill — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 12:39:56 -0400

Given today's climate of fear, it would stand to reason that backpacks and water bottles would be prohibited. Armed forces members have gone on killing sprees of others in their units in the past. Kileen, Texas comes to mind.