The Mess

[SuburbanFarmer]

Figured I'd pop in and drop this in The Mess for y'all to chew on. I haven't taken the time to read it all, but it looks to be a very interesting report on the future threats we face, and the policies, strategies, and tactics that are being considered for how to handle them.

Joint Operating Environment 2035: The Joint Force in a Contested and Disordered World, published by the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Department of Defense, July 14, 2016.

Summarize, please...

[adwinistrator]

Figured I'd pop in and drop this in The Mess for y'all to chew on. I haven't taken the time to read it all, but it looks to be a very interesting report on the future threats we face, and the policies, strategies, and tactics that are being considered for how to handle them.

Joint Operating Environment 2035: The Joint Force in a Contested and Disordered World, published by the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Department of Defense, July 14, 2016.

Summarize, please...

Like I said, I haven't read it all yet, it's a Joint Operations analysis report on what the threats will be like by 2035, and how best to approach those threats... Pretty detailed and deep stuff.

Looking ahead, competitive behavior between the U.S. and potential – and actual – adversaries will be overt and violent. But just as often, our interaction with competitors will include attempts to deter and deny us our strategic objectives or be marked by ambiguous, but still coercive pursuit of political goals backed by the threat or potential of applied military power. Over the next two decades, both overt and ambiguous competitive interactions between dissimilar military forces will be a normal and recurrent condition for the Joint Force

The ideas here should encourage a dialogue about what the Joint Force should do and be to protect the United States, its allies, its partners, and its interests around the world in 2035.

It seems their two major forms of threat are "contested norms" and "persistent disorder"

Warfare in 2035 will be defined by six contexts of future conflict. In 2035, the Joint Force will confront Violent Ideological Competition focused on the subversion or overthrow of established governments. Threatened U.S. Territory and Sovereignty will become increasingly prevalent as enemies attempt to coerce the United States and its citizens. Antagonistic Geopolitical Balancing by capable adversaries will challenge the United States over the long term and place difficult demands on the Joint Force over wide areas of the globe. Intimidation, destabilization, and the use of force by state and non-state actors alike will result in Disrupted Global Commons and A Contest for Cyberspace. Internal political fractures, environmental stressors, or deliberate external interference will lead to Shattered and Reordered Regions. Each Context of Future Conflict poses a troubling problem space for the Joint Force.

[Montegriffo]

When I was working in messes the junior mess was known as the cook house with only the sgt's and officers mess given that title.
Colloquialism?

There are different sorts of Messes, there are the dining Messes, and then there are the drinking Messes, although in the drinking Messes, food is often served as well as they will have a small kitchen in those Messes, when at work, one takes meals at the dining Mess, delineated by rank as well, when one finishes work, one retires to one's drinking Mess, where one can get a meal if one wishes, if one missed/declined the meal served at the dining Mess.

The dining Messes and meals therein, are paid for by Her Majesty, you are entitled to a dining Mess and three meals a day, the drinking Messes are paid for by the member's Mess dues, drinks and meals therein are purchased, although you can run a tab.

Maybe that's the reason then. On the training camps there was no alcohol in the cookhouse, in fact some troopers had to be reminded to leave their guns outside and take off their hats. The messes on the other hand did have drinking going on, particularly the fat bastards of the Household Cavalry sgt's mess.

[Smitty-48]

Like I said, I haven't read it all yet, it's a Joint Operations analysis report on what the threats will be like by 2035, and how best to approach those threats... Pretty detailed and deep stuff.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[adwinistrator]

Like I said, I haven't read it all yet, it's a Joint Operations analysis report on what the threats will be like by 2035, and how best to approach those threats... Pretty detailed and deep stuff.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

I didn't say it was an enthralling read

Might be of interest to some here.

[Smitty-48]

Maybe that's the reason then. On the training camps there was no alcohol in the cookhouse, in fact some troopers had to be reminded to leave their guns outside and take off their hats. The messes on the other hand did have drinking going on, particularly the fat bastards of the Household Cavalry sgt's mess.

A camp is technically in the field, so facilities there are often more austere and ad hoc than in garrison, and priority is given to the senior ranks in terms of appointments in all cases, rank indeed hath its privileges after all. You are bound to care and feed the troops first and foremost, but when it comes to recreations, the senior ranks will have their due.

[ssu]

Thanks for the brief overview on messes, Smitty.

As to the appointments of this virtual Mess, I've assumed it to be as lavishly appointed as the Officers Mess on the campus martius at the Canadian Forces Staff College North York, which is quite lavishly appointed indeed.

Looks nice! I imagine those Canadian officers speding their leisure time there might feel if the Empire hadn't gone away.

I actually do belong to an Officers Club, the Officer's Club at Suomenlinna, which has about 1 000 members. Seldom do any active officers visit the place from the nearby Naval War School (or actually other clubs in garrisons, which was their earlier role), hence the club is more of a retired officers and reservists place and tries it's best with various activities and renting restaurant services for the public. At least has some remnants of a dress code, you don't waltz in with shorts and slippers in the summer. My reserve officer association used to meet at the club, so it came to be quite familiar to me. Nice place, but as it's on the fortress Island, everybody is allways looking at when the ferrys go, which is a bit annoying. Yet It can be a long wait if you miss the last one back to Helsinki especially in winter...

The Officer's Club building at Suomenlinna, built to be one by the Russians in 1876:

The bar, the kitchen behind:

Main hall:

Cabinet, usually with one large table and chairs, unlike in this photo. The ever present Marshal Mannerheim is in picture on the wall.

There were quite elaborate "Heritage Rooms" for the Navy and the Coastal Artillery with all kinds of regalia and models all over, even my branch (Air Defence) had a room in the club. And of course there is a sauna, as you would assume there to be.

[Smitty-48]

Looks nice! I imagine those Canadian officers speding their leisure time there might feel if the Empire hadn't gone away.

Oh indeed, I have worked both ceremonial duties and close protection detail for the Senior Staff, and it is indeed a little slice of the Empire of yore, mind you, they treated us exceptionally well, providing the Ranks with our own rest easy while on tasking, and catered for all our meals and beverages therein, and in fact, the General's did join us for a bit of meet and greet on occasion, and it was a rare privilege to make their acquaintances in an informal setting.

[Montegriffo]

Maybe that's the reason then. On the training camps there was no alcohol in the cookhouse, in fact some troopers had to be reminded to leave their guns outside and take off their hats. The messes on the other hand did have drinking going on, particularly the fat bastards of the Household Cavalry sgt's mess.

A camp is technically in the field, so facilities there are often more austere and ad hoc than in garrison, and priority is given to the senior ranks in terms of appointments in all cases, rank indeed hath its privileges after all. You are bound to care and feed the troops first and foremost, but when it comes to recreations, the senior ranks will have their due.

The quality of the food varied quite alarmingly, I always preferred to be in a mess as I could cook much better food, On one occasion I was removed from the Household sgt's mess and replaced by the boss's favourite Gurkha chef but luckily I was returned after a day at the demand of the men.

[Smitty-48]

The quality of the food varied quite alarmingly,

Well we don't call the British Army the Shit Eaters for nothing. Here in Canada however, even the Junior Ranks eat like kings, best fed army in the world in terms of quality, bar none.