Illinois Expat: Naval Station Rota Dining Out

Once a year, the base holds a Ward Room Dining Out. The Ward Room, for those that don't know, is the collection of officers on the base. We pay dues and each month there is a different gathering held where we greet incoming officers and say adieu to those officers leaving. It's a nice social outing for what is a small ward room and base. The Ward Room also holds a more formal function which is the Dining Out. Those in the Navy wear either the uniform tuxedo or the dress uniform. You will notice Justin is only in the dress uniform as he has the winter blue tuxedo, not the summer white tuxedo. Something that will be purchased as we foresee many more formal military functions in our future.
The Dining Out itself is a crazy affair and the idea of it dates back to the Roman military. Things have obviously changed a bit since then but it still holds true to some of the original traditions. Now, it is a long dinner that has funny and obscene rules and nothing is off limits. If you break any of the list of created "rules", you get an infraction and must drink from the "grog", a non-alcoholic or alcoholic (depending on which you choose) blend that is in a toilet bowl. Seriously, you drink out of a toilet bowl if you get an infraction. Not only that, you must salute the grog, dip the cup in and fill it to the top, drink the grog in one gulp, place the empty cup on top your head as proof you drank it all, salute the grog bowl again....all while facing the commanding officer of the base and the head party. I managed to get by without any grog drinking but Justin did not. His infraction? He attended law school. Infraction # 15.
We had just gotten back from the states a few days before and made a last minute decision to go to the Dining Out. I borrowed a dress from my friend and managed to snag our baby-sitter and we did not regret it!

The event was at the usual hotel in Rota we have all our events at. On the beach and picturesque. This is happy hour with the lady friends.

This is after happy hour but before the Dining Out dinner started. We were a little more loose after a few sangrias!

A bag piper always presents the meat that will be consumed by the ward room to the commanding officer. My question is, where do they find the bagpiper in Spain?

Presentation of the grog to the commanding officer. The toilet on the left is the non-alcoholic, the toilet on the right is the alcoholic. Needless to say the right ran out by the end of the night.

Justin and his good friend Andy enjoying the dinner.

Cigars and dancing ended the night. The boys opted for the stogies. The guys with the black pants are wearing the summer white tuxedo.

The "Bull" Ensign. He is the most senior ensign (but one of the youngest officers) in the wardroom. He wore the hat with the horns all night and took the role VERY seriously.