Click HERE for a video that really shows you what it is like at chow time, especially for the Chow Runners!
All training squadrons have a dining facility (sometimes called the DFAC or the chow hall) located on the lower level of their building. In some cases, if a neighboring squadron is close, two squadrons may share a facility. All trainees receive three meals a day, also known as “chow time.” These are either served at the DFAC, or as a Meal Ready-to-Eat during field training. The food in the DFAC is actually good. However, the reality is trainees won’t have much time to actually taste what they are eating. Meal time may last 30 minutes or less, depending on the order the flight arrives at the chow hall. Trainees are mandated a minimum of 20 minutes to consume each meal. With that said, most trainees can receive much less time to actually eat because much of the time at the DFAC can be spent waiting in lines.
As with every other thing at BMT, there are specific rules that are followed during chow time to get your food, find your table, eat your food, empty your trays and exit the facility.
Trainees are not allowed to actually sit down and begin eating until all trainees at that table arrive. While waiting, trainees stand at a modified position of attention, holding the tray out in front. Once the last trainee arrives he announces, “Ready … Sit.” At that time they all sit down and begin to eat.
Trainees learn to eat quickly. When done, they wait until the last person at the table finishes. They then stand at the same time and walk to the area to drop off the trays. Chow time the first couple of weeks can be stressful.
The Chow Runner has a pretty tough job. He/She is responsible for announcing the flight is ready to enter the DFAC. While most trainees do their best to avoid “the Snake Pit,” the Chow Runner must report to the Snake Pit each time to announce that their flight is ready to enter the DFAC. This of course opens the door for the Chow Runner to face the wrath of the MTIs at the Snake Pit.
You are probably saying, what is the Snake Pit. It is the table where all the MTI’s sit during chow! They sit waiting for their prey, the trainees, to walk past as they sit down to eat and walk out to leave. At anytime MTIs will pounce on an unsuspecting trainee and turn an already chaotic experience (eating a meal in a few minutes) into an even more gut wrenching, digestion-blocking meal. The purpose of the Snake Pit is for MTIs to catch trainees off guard and test them on their knowledge of rank structure, military bearing, customs, and courtesies.
Here are three simple tips for successfully navigating the Snake Pit.
1. Do your best to avoid getting called to the Snake Pit. Although chances are high that at some point every trainee will get sent to the Snake Pit, there are ways to avoid being a target. When trainees go through the chow line MTIs are looking for any trainees out of step, looking around, or going too slow. Remember to focus on getting your food and don’t chat with the civilians serving it. Before reaching your table you will walk directly toward the Snake Pit. At this point don’t show any fear. MTIs are like hungry beasts that can smell fear and will jump at the weakest looking member of the pack. As you walk past the Snake Pit look confident and focused on getting from point A to point B. However don’t look directly at the MTIs. This is a sure way to get called over and grilled.
2. Know your stuff. If you are ever called over, make sure you know the information in accordance with the week of training you are in. If you are supposed to know the rank structure by now, know it backwards and forwards. Otherwise they will drill you until you make a mistake. And one mistake outweighs a thousand correct answers.
3. Don’t carry anything with or on you that is unauthorized. You will know exactly what you are and are not supposed to have with you. If you are pulled from the chow line and into the Snake Pit, chances are you will have your portfolio (the bag you will carry everywhere) dumped out and ransacked. If anything is missing you’re in trouble. Worse yet, if there is something not authorized in there, you’re in even more trouble. Check and double-check your portfolio every night before bed. You never know when the MTIs in the Snake Pit will strike out and bite.
