The Marine Corps birthday ball is an important annual event for the Corps, to celebrate the establishment of the Corps, which took place on 10 November 1775, and formally established by Marine Corps Order 47, published by Commandant John Lejeune in 1921. Marines religiously observe the birthday each year wherever they may be as if it were their own birthday, even in combat or other austere environments. Even former and retired Marines celebrate the Birthday annually with a measure of fanfare.
At the beginning of this episode, Ducky is called in for an autopsy and complains about having to miss the ballet Gisele. One of the guest stars in that episode, Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, is the grandson of Janine Klotza, a Parisian ballet dancer who reportedly performed in all the major ballets except Gisele.
The actor, Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, who plays the undercover FBI agent, also plays Proto Zoa on the Disney Channel zombie Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999).