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With the Army Military Birthday Ball coming up, I wanted to share a few tips I’ve learned over the past 15 years…
1. Dress. It is about the dress. Look for your dress well in advance. We were stationed overseas for over 8 years in “our” Army career and I have had times where I got a dress in less than a month to waiting over months to only find out they don’t ship to APO addresses.
2. Go. If you are able to attend a military ball – I would highly recommended going. They are fun and please don’t make the mistake that if you go to one that you’ve been to them ALL. Simply not true. From BN balls to Army-wide, and/or mixed branches –each one is different and have different event planners.
3. Learn your manners. Almost all Army posts have an ACS that locally and monthly have classes or courses that are about your military life. I have been to a couple of Military Ball 101 courses and/or take AFTB classes. Almost always they cover Military Balls. FRG Leaders: why not have a class during an FRG meeting close the time of the Ball? Or plan a dress exchange- those are fun and cost effective.
4. Take a camera. I love taking pictures! Even though I don’t have the best and most expensive camera out there, the photos I take our priceless. Personally, I think with this day and age – most packages from the “camera guy” –are less than par and overpriced.
5. Modesty. All military balls are formal. Please don’t go looking like you just left the smallest, raunchiest bikers fest! It’s just not appropriate.
6. Snack before you go! Let’s face it. “We” are in the Army now, and our favorite motto is “hurry up and wait.” You can look forward to waiting on your meal for at least the first couple of hours…and there are a lot of VIP’s who like to listen to their own voices. *Just saying…
And finally,
7. Be smart. If you drink, don’t drive. My husband knows I truly love going to military balls, but our routine is to get there just before the receiving line ends and leave just after the dinner and before the dancing. Why?? People just get stupid drunk. NOT everyone does and I am sure the midnight hour is fun –we just don’t participate. SAFETY first please!! Take care of our Soldiers!
Hope this helps just a tad bit
I too love military balls! I just wish everyone took the receiving line seriously and new the proper etiquette. Too many times, I’ve seen young girls with drinks in one hand and their clutch in the other….I find it disrespectful.
Crystal, I’m with you. I know I’m old fashioned, but the First Sergeant and the senior NCO’s used to troop the line and make sure their soldiers and officers, and their guests, were squared away. I miss that.
AFTB, AFTB, and, dare I say it? AFTB!
The soldier that brings their wife/girlfriend should go over the proper procedures before the ball! Which lets face it, is the commands responsibility to make sure every soldier knows the proper way to go through a receiving line. Also, about the dress, formal means long length gowns, not short!