How to Prepare for a Combat Dining In

One of the oldest and most offbeat military traditions that you may not learn about until you are expected to participate is a "Combat Dining In." This is a military-only get together where discipline and decorum are tossed out the window as Enlisted and Officers alike share some indiscriminate fun time. No one is safe and no prank is too extreme!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Old military uniform
• Camo paint
• Paintball Gun
• Super soaker

1. Choose your oldest and rattiest uniform to wear - there's no telling what it's going to look like by the time you get home, or if the stains are going to come out. The only stipulations are that you must have your correct name and rank on it, along with any other patches that may be required by your unit.
2. Camo up. There's no point in even pretending that you aren't going to get dirty, so go in with your warpaint on and declare your intention of getting filthier than anyone else.
3. Protect any items on your person that you don't want to get wet by wrapping them in plastic or ziploc bags. If you are driving a car, cover the seats with garbage bags and bring a change of clothes if you so desire.
4. Pull out every toy weapon in your arsenal. Water balloons, super soakers, paintball guns, nerf guns; anything you think will make you better prepared and more formidable. You can also bring pudding bombs, eggs (not rotten ones), string spray, or whatever will add to the chaos without actually hurting someone.
5. Create an alliance with some friends before the event so you can fight as a team, or just go in unattached and play it by ear. The cool thing about a Combat Dining In is you never know who you might find your self teamed up with.
6. Before entering the Combat zone, make sure you have all your weapons ready and easily accessible. There will be some traditions and formalities that will likely be observed beforehand, but once the action starts, you want to make sure you aren't having to run three blocks for your gear.
7. Get in there and fight! If you ever played cowboys and Indians when you were a kid, it's the same mentality. Play hard and show no mercy - it will probably be a whole year before you get another chance to wallop the Colonel with a water balloon, so don't hold back!

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on where you are stationed and what your chain of command is like, you may want to arrange for a Designated Driver before you ever arrive at the Combat Dining In.
• Any items that are sharp or could potentially injure someone are off limits. The point is to have fun without anyone getting anything more than a bruise or scrape.