Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center doctors keep tradition

By Capt. Anthony ClasFebruary 11, 2014

Carl R. Darnall Medical Center doctors keep tradition
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Claudia Becerril- Clas, first year resident, prepares to make a formal toast in recognition of the missing man, which symbolizes those service members that are no longer with us, during the Annual CRDAMC Family Medicine Residency Program Dining... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center doctors keep tradition
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Aaron Karmes, second year resident, Family Medicine Program, CRDAMC drinks from the ceremonial non-alcoholic Grog during the Annual CRDAMC Family Medicine Residency Program Dining-Out at The Walburg German Restaurant Feb. 8. The Grog usually co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center doctors keep tradition
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The audience looks on as retired Col. Wayne Schirner, director of Medical Education and Population Health, CRDAMC delivers remarks during the Annual CRDAMC Family Medicine Residency Program Dining-Out at The Walburg German Restaurant Feb. 8. (U.S. A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - Army doctors from the Family Medicine Residency Program at Carl R. Darnall Medical Center, conducted their annual Dining-Out at The Walburg German Restaurant Feb. 8.

The Dining-Out is a traditional formal dinner for members and guests of a military organization or unit. It provides opportunities for members to recognize individual and/or unit achievements or any events which are effective in building and maintaining unit espirit de corps.

"The tradition of the Dining-In goes back to around 16th Century England and was started in monasteries and universities which was then adopted by the British Military to boost their morale," said Capt. Chris Coleman, second year resident, Family Medicine Program, CRDAMC and Vice President of the Mess. "The Dining-In was passed on from the British Military to the U.S. Military during World War I and was meant for members of the unit only; however, the Dining-Out is meant for members of the unit and guests."

The Dining-Out events included Social Hour, Invocation, Recognition of the Missing Man Table, Dining-Out Overview and Protocol of the Mess, Dinner and words of wisdom given by retired Col. Wayne Schirner, director of Medical Education and Population Health, CRDAMC.

"If you're trying to influence patients to follow your advice, peers to work with you, bosses to listen to your ideas or subordinates to follow your lead you must have the three Cs... Confidence, Character and Compassion," said Schirner. "Be confident that you know what you're doing and talking about if you hope to influence anyone; you must have the character to do what is right in everything you do; and lastly everything you do must be done with compassion, without compassion you can't hope to influence anyone to do what you would like for them to do."

The Family Medicine Residency Program plans to continue the Dining-Out tradition for years to come to expose their residents to this military tradition before they get to operational units.

"These events [Dining-In/Out] are not done that often in the Army medical field," said Maj. Drew Baird, assistant program director of the Army Family Medicine Residency Program, CRDAMC and President of the Mess. "It is an important Army tradition that the faculty wanted to bring into the program and to help educate our residents on one of the important social functions within the U.S. Army. On previous assignments our faculty members have been to these events either at West Point [U.S. Military Academy] or with operational units, with battalions and brigades. When our residents are eventually assigned to these units we want them to have a better understanding of the Dining-Out, look forward to it and participate in it."

"We chose to host the Dining-Out at The Walburg German Restaurant because of their reputation for being friendly to the military and to support the Army's Community Outreach Program," said Baird. "We [Family Medicine Residency Program Leadership] were looking for a way to get together, have a great time and teach this tradition to the new residents before they go to operational units."