Who is going to the Army Birthday Ball?

It wasn't until I joined a joint service unit where I became aware of how many service members have never even gone to their own ball to celebrate the birth of their service.  Marines practically make it mandatory to attend, even in the reserves.  The ball will be on a duty day or a drill day, if you do not go, you become part of the working party which forces everybody to end up going to the birthday ball anyways.  You either buy a ticket to the ball and wear you dress uniform or not pay and be part of the working party to run the ball wearing a service uniform.