Costumes & Accessories (15) / Party Supplies (12)

Army - Military Party

Table of contents

Introduction

Fancy yourself born to serve in the army, do you? If so, then you had better pay careful attention because we'll be showing you exactly how to organize one of the best army-themed parties ever! Below you'll find a number of tips to assist you with the important task of party organization. But before we start, just a little background on the army.

 

The word army originated from the French word "armée" which has its own origins from the Latin word "Armata" which means the "act of arming". The term "army" is usually used to combine all the different types of armed forces including the air force and the navy. But as you may already know, there are also smaller parts to an army than just the air force, the navy or the land army. Here's is a short list of the army structure, from the smallest to the biggest:

 

Squad - These units can have anything from 10 to 15 soldiers and are commanded by a sergeant or a staff sergeant. Their size will vary depending on their function.

 

Platoon - Composed out of 16 to 60 soldiers, the platoon is directed by a lieutenant and may consist of two to four squads.

 

Company - With 61 to 190 soldiers, a company usually consists out of three to five platoons. A company is led by a captain and has a first sergeant as second in command. If a company is an artillery unit, it is usually called a battery.

 

Battalion - As four to six companies usually make up a battalion, the average number of troops averages around 1,200. To keep the order, a lieutenant colonel and his second in command, the sergeant major, are put in command.

 

Brigade - With up to 5,000 soldiers, a brigade consists of an average of between two to five battalions. As this is quite a large number of people to direct, a colonel is put in charge and is assisted by a sergeant major.

 

Division - Commanded by a major general and consisting of three brigades, a division is something to steer clear of as their purpose is to conduct tactical operations and fight in battles and other prolonged engagements.

 

Corps - With anything from 20,000 to 50,000 soldiers, a corps is composed of two to five divisions. In this case, nothing but a lieutenant general will do to help keep soldiers organized and disciplined.

 

Army - An army consists of two or more corps and is directed by a lieutenant general or someone with a higher rank.

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Army/Military Party Invitations

Below you will find some useful ideas for Army/Military Party invitations. Should you require any of the materials or items necessary, just ask your parents to help by purchasing them from a retail store in your area or from the internet. And remember, including the following information in your invitation will ensure that your guests will have all the information they need.

  • Party Name: Be sure to give your party a cool sounding military name. An example would be: “General McGuire's MP Bash”.

  • Salutation:

  • Date & Time

  • Venue/Location

  • Dress Code

  • Contact Details

  • Additional information…

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The Military Helmet

From your local army supply store or from the internet, get a number of army helmets equal to the number of friends you are planning to invite. In addition, get yourself a military font stencil set.

 

Once you have everything, simply stencil the details of your party onto the back of the helmet using the stencil and a black marker. Here's an example of the text:

 

Invitation to General McGuire's MP Bash

Sunday 25th of March, 5pm Sharp

211 Milway Avenue

Dress Code: Military

Contact: James McGuire – 555.5551

 

These details should be changed to include accurate information as well as additional things you think your guests ought to know.

 

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Camouflage Vest

Taking a leaf from the Military Helmet idea above, simply replace the helmet with a camouflage vest that you'll be able to get from your nearest military gear stockist.

Military Walkie-Talkie

As your parents if they'll be able to help you buy some walkie-talkies for each of your friends. These needn't be real army ones as toy walkie-talkies would do just fine.

 

Once you have them, attach a note or a formal invitation to your party to the walkie talkie and get ready to deliver them. If you and your friends live in close proximity of each other, you can even relate the details of your party via the walkie talkie (you may have to stand outside their houses though).

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Army/Military Party Dress Code

Looking at the invitation above, you can see that the dress code simply states “Military”. If you want your guests to dress in any other way, be sure to include it on your invitation.

Army/Military Party Decorations

Here are a couple of decorations to consider for your Army/Military Party. If you aren’t planning on making them yourself, then just ask your parents to help you purchase them from the appropriate retailer in your are or from the internet.

  • Camouflage Army Plates

  • Tin cups

  • Army Napkins

  • Army stickers

  • Camouflage Streamers

  • Army center pieces - Canon, tank, etc.

  • Camouflage Banner

  • Camouflage Table Cloth

  • Camouflage Nets

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Army/Military Party Guest Arrival & Announcement

As this is a military party and you are to be the General, you had better ensure that all your guests receive military attention. As such it may be a good idea to welcome them at the door and announce them to the other guests in the following way”

 

“a-ten-hut! Announcing corporal Walker!”

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Army/Military Party Favors

Party favors are small gifts that you can give your friends when they arrive at the party. These items are often used as reminders of a good party or at the party itself. Below you’ll find a couple of ideas which you and your parents can buy from a store in your area or from the internet.

  • Plastic army helmet - Camouflage

  • Army stickers

  • Toy helicopters

  • Camouflage Squirt Guns

Army/Military Party Activities

There’s nothing like a good party activity to ensure that a great time is had by all. Below are a couple of ideas which you can use and change as you want to suit the purposes of your party.

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Operation Treasure Trove

Suitable for any amount of players, this game will surely test you and your friends' ingenuity.

 

This game is best played in a large open space where running is allowed and away from anything that can break or cause any measure of injuries. To start off, you and your friends have to divide in two more or less equal groups. Once that's done, the two groups have to decide on a single item to be used as the treasure and which of the groups will be holding on to it initially.

 

Once everything is decided, it's time for the game to begin! Each group has to set up base in an area obscured from the view of the other group. Members of both groups then have to send out teams to gather intelligence on the other groups' movements as it is the purpose of the group holding the item to defend it and the other group to get it.

 

To add some realistic fun to the event, both groups should be equipped with squirt guns.

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The Safe Haven

Whether you're only a couple of friends together or a large group of people, this game is sure to be a hit! For best effects, this game is preferably played over a large area.

 

One participant has to be selected as the "IT" person and all the others have to be equipped with water balloons or squirt guns. Once someone has been decided upon all players have to go into hiding and count to 100. After 100 has been reached, all the other players have to look for the "IT" person without being seen by one another - if you see someone else looking for the "IT" person, then you have to use the water balloon or squirt gun to evict that person from the current round.

 

Should someone find the "IT" person they will be able to hide with that person and will be immune from round eviction. The first person to find the "IT" person will be the "IT" for the next round.

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Prisoner

For this game you'll need a rather large area where running is allowed. All participants should divide into two teams and select one person from their team as the Injured Sam. Once Sam has been selected, he or she is the prisoner of the opposing team.


Now, the playing area should be divided into two with the division clearly marked (with a chalk line or anything else). In addition an area for the prison should be allocated at the back of each team's territory. The goal of each team is to rescue their prisoner from the other team's prison without being caught. This is done by carefully and swiftly running through the other team's area until prison is reached. Once the prison is reached, the rescuer is safe. He or she must then carefully plan the escape (with the prisoner) back to their team's territory to avoid being captured.


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Magnetic Tag

Ready for some great fun? Well, here it is anyway:


Locate a large area suitable for lots of running and select one person to be the "IT" person. He or she then has to stand in the middle of the playing field and shout "Tag! Tag! Tag! I'm it!" At this stage all players have to run from the one side of the playing area without being tagged. Those who get tagged also become "IT" and has to help the original "IT" tag the other participants. The first person being tagged is the original "IT" for the next round.

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Food & Drink

Just in case you didn't know, in the military they call their food "rations" as it consists of food that can be prepared in rough conditions and won't spoil too quickly. But there are also different kind of rations, each referring to specific types of food. Using the list below, ask your parents to prepare any of the following food types for you and your friends:

 

A-ration: Fresh food that has been prepared at the base or camp.

B-ration: ready-made rations that simply require heating. For the purposes of your party, this can refer to any frozen foods or even fast foods.

Ready-to-Eat: A normal meal.

First Strike Ration: Food that can be eaten while on the move.

HOOAH! Bar - Energy Bar: Soldiers need a lot of energy and therefore eat some energy bars to keep their strength up.

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