Different thread, I know, but could be applied to this one, of Handing them the little "fictional or factual" names on the back of their jackets, to encourage meeting and greeting all until you get the damn thing off, at least!
Colonel, Corporal, Sgt Major or Captain, we all put our pants on one leg at a time, and whatever the job tasking, enjoy good mixing entertainment!
Note "Heartbreak Ridge" (Eastwood movie) where the full Colonel says to the Tech Sgt "well, we sure chewed some of the same dirt"...thee's a good deal of "commonality" in being invited to the same party!
Likewise, most of your "guests" will have a "life outside of career", interests aside from their "jobs"...in the case of military types, there's literally too many things you cannot "talk about", especially as your rank "grows", and a "good party" is the relief you are seeking...
I'd sooner have a "tete a tete" with Audeo on the "chili debate" and recipes, than work through the gut grinder on how I'd take a 120 guys and gals through Bosnia, and how to deal with genocide graves, "Civil Unrest", "factional interests"...or the tragedy of Rawhanda and what LGen Romeo D'Allaire went through there, with the UN screwing him, his "peacekeepers" getting butchered, and nobody taking much notice...
So, DEEPLY SORRY, but when the Cdn Army phones and asks if I'd consider "coming back in" and taking a company over to the Balkans or Afghanistan...my reply remains "No thanks"...my medals might be few, but the guys with the long line of them in Canada...well I've seen what problems they had, both then and in later life...
Anyways! Don't need to go back down the toilet bowl of terrors, do I?
The Brass you are entertaining are just as interested in a "good time" as you are, and are fantastic leaders besides...give them a cue on which way to go, and it'll be "get off the table, Mabel, the five bucks is for the beer", in no time...
Lifter