Choose the right ice-breaker for your group considering the size of the group, how well they already know each other, and what you are comfortable leading.

1. ICE BREAKER IDEAS FOR FRG MEETINGS
SHARE ONE FACT
Participants introduce themselves and share one fact. Assign a particular fact to
share: Hometown, occupation, favorite book/movie/TV show, where you met your
spouse, how you learned about this FRG meeting, first duty station in the Army, etc.
INTRODUCE ANOTHER
Divide the group into pairs. Each person talks about him/herself to the other,
sometimes with specific instructions to share a certain piece of information. For
example, "The one thing I am particularly proud of is..." After a few minutes, the
participants introduce the other person to the rest of the class. And sure, they can
take notes!
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Have participants write down one or two adjectives describing themselves. You may
want to provide examples on a poster, overhead, or chalkboard: shy, talkative,
neat-freak, messy, creative, outgoing, quiet, etc. Put these on a stick-on badge.
Have participants find someone with similar or opposite adjectives and talk for five
minutes with the other person.
I'VE DONE SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T DONE
Ask everyone to stand. Have one person introduce themselves and then state
something they have never done. If someone else has done it, they tell a quick
story about that. Then they can sit down. Choose another person and start again.
(Examples: I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon … I’ve never been stationed at Fort
Polk … I’ve never been to an AFTB class.)
FIND SOMEONE
Each person writes on a blank index card one to three statements, such as favorite
color, interest, hobby, or vacations. Pass out cards so everyone gets someone else's
card. Have that person find the person with their card and introduce themselves.
WHO AM I?
Write the name of a famous person on a piece of paper and pin/tape it on the
participants’ backs. Each person tries to guess what name is pinned on his/her by
asking others yes or no questions. (Example: Am I a female? Am I still living? Am
I a musician?) Variations: Use famous place, Army installation, popular TV shows,
etc. instead of famous person.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Ask everyone to write down two TRUE things about themselves and one FALSE item
(that could be plausible). Take turns reading the three statements aloud and let
group members guess which is the lie. This can start great discussions. (Example:
I met my spouse when I was four years old (true); I have washed chickens in a
bathtub (true); and I have five siblings (lie).) See? Don’t you want to know why I
have washed chickens in a bathtub?
FRG Meeting Ice Breaker Ideas, compiled by Traci A. Cook