Does anyone actually know what a military ball is?

Question

I asked a question yesterday about what I could do to make the military ball appeal to younger, lower enlisted Soldiers, and now I'm wondering if anyone actually knows what a military ball is.

Oh yeah, I'm talking about a ball. NOT a dining in.

Answer 1

A military ball, is a formal dinner dance. No they aren't mandatory, and open to all members of the military and a guest. Since it is formal dinner dance, Class A uniform, or Dinner Dress uniform is appropriate for military, Formal dress or tuxedo/formal suit is appropriate for civilian. They usually have prizes that are given away by raffle.

Answer 2

It's a dance.

My brother attended the Naval Academy. They had three dances a year with the Ring Dance being the most popular. He said they always wore their uniforms and practiced their etiquette on the wives of the officers. John was popular as a partner because he had taken ballroom dance in high school.

How to make it more appealing to the young enlisted soldiers? Are we talking men and women? Could it be a costume affair? Or themed like romantic Hollywood couples? Will there be enough young ladies present for the young men to have dance partners if they come? Will you have door prizes? Are you planning a DJ or a live band?

Good luck. Without knowing more about your demographics, it's hard to make specific suggestions. But if the ball is for anywhere near halloween I'd go with a costume idea and make it a fright ball. Plan any possible food to match the theme. Prizes for best costumes, possibly even an old fashioned apple bobbing horse trough. You could have carved pumpkins and hay bales as decor. If there was a pond nearby outdoors, you could offer canoe rides for couples. Possibly even convert part of the dance area into a haunted trail.

You could do a progressive dance where all the young ladies meet in the center of the floor and form a circle and the young men form another circle around them. The music starts and the circles move in opposite directions. When it stops, you dance with the person facing you....do this for about ten songs it will break the ice and keep the dancers moving.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Yes, I know what a Military Ball is. After 18 years, I'd hope I do. A dinner is usually served. That's followed by a couple of speeches and possibly awards. After that, everyone is "released" to the dance floor. It's a formal occasion. Women are in floor length gowns and most men are in their Dress Blues. (This is all pending the soldier is male, of course.) Unfortunately, the Dress Blues will now be the dress uniform for everyone. Talk about ruining a good thing.

However, I don't see what the issue in trying to get younger soldiers to go. I'm tired of going to Balls and listening to rap music. I find it quite inappropriate. It seems to me, that they cater to the younger crowd as it is. I guess that's why we all leave and the younger crowd stays. We all want to dance like the military men and princesses that we are for a night. Another major issue is that nobody realizes the importance or significance of these Balls. In our new Army of One, it's about the individual soldier, not the unit or unity it provides.

Dining Ins and Dining Outs are 2 totally different functions.

Answer 4

A military ball is a formal dance. It's more commonly used for officers and senior NCOs and more often than not "attendance is mandatory" type of thing.

I've never heard of a ball being given for enlisted soldiers. A more informal dance, yes, but not a ball. Most enlisted do not have the money needed to go all out on a formal affair.

Answer 5

the very nature of a military Ball makes it NOT interesting ro desirable to Junior enlisted folks.

Junior Enlisted are the first people who do NOT want anything to do with their job in their 'off' hours. They don't wanna get into their Service Dress Uniforms and be forced to be all correct and crap in front of every Senior enlisted and Zero in the room.

If you want to have something that will appeal to Junior Enlisted, than make it a non formal non mandatory party.. NOT a Ball and NOT a command function where there will be speechifying and uniforms requiring medals.

Answer 6

Well the Marine Corps Ball is for the birthday of the Marine Corps. Held as closely to Nov 10th as possible. Since each command offen has it's own. They run pretty much all month at Camp Pendelton. There is a prescibed cermemony that is done at the begining. but ends with a lot of drinking and dancing. In many Embassies ending with a champage breakfast. (those were good times.)

Answer 7

Yeah I have actually been to one... to make them more appealing to the younger crowd you almost have to make it sound like a prom to the wives... Or that was from my experience....

Also... you need to help the men and women not be so scared of formalness to it... Also They threatend that if the lower ranks didn't go... then they would have to have a class A inspection... so they kind of made it so that you had no choice but to end up in you Class A sooner or later...

Answer 8

A military ball is,when couched in military parlance as follows.Ball,Military,One,Set Of Two,Off Shooting,For The Purposes Of,Millitary Action During.I hope I have helped.

Answer 9

When I was in the Army our battalion had a Military Ball. It wasn't mandatory and every rank was invited but you did have to wear a dress blue or dress white uniform to attend. Most junior enlisted didn't have a blue or white dress uniform as they tend to be expensive.

Answer 10

I posted on your other questio n asking about the ball, I thought of another thing our past FRG's have done is for the soldiers whom can't nessarily afford a dress for the female spouse we have had them bring pold dresses maybe from proms' ect and had higher ranking as well donate and just tell them to dry clean after use to return this has helped some who couldn't afford tickets and dresses.