Kids’ Halloween Costume Ideas: Military and First Responder Edition

Key Takeaways

• Cool Halloween costumes for kids include combat soldiers, special ops personnel, Marines, and police and SWAT officers.
• You can get your kiddo an all-in-one costume from Army Surplus World or DIY a costume idea with camo clothing and accessories from our online store.
• Don’t forget the details! Props and accessories can bring kids’ Halloween costume ideas to life.

Tired of average kids’ costumes like comic superheroes and movie characters? Honor our real-life heroes this Halloween: military members and first responders. From soldiers to SWAT officers, these costumes give your kiddo the chance to play hero for a day.

Army Soldier

Get your little one ready to (pretend) gear up for duty! One of the coolest kids’ Halloween costume ideas, these camo costumes will have your kid looking and feeling like a soldier. Our Army costumes for kids include everything they need for an authentic look, including BDU pants, a t-shirt, a tactical vest, and a tactical cap or helmet. 

You could also DIY an Army soldier costume with these essentials:

• Kids’ camo clothing – pants and shirt (camo or solid)
• Military dog tags
• Kids’ military toy guns
• Kids’ army helmet
• Kids’ combat boots

Sniper Solider

Another unique kids’ Halloween costume idea: sniper soldier. This costume is super simple – all you’ll need is a kids’ ghillie suit. Never heard of a ghillie suit? It’s a type of camouflage clothing designed to blend into natural surroundings. It usually consists of a net or cloth garment that’s covered in loose strips of cloth and twine. Your child will feel like the coolest kid trick-or-treating as they head from house to house incognito.

Halloween tip: Add kids’ face paint so they’re camouflaged head to toe! It’s easy to put on/take off, and it won’t crack, dry, or come off during sweaty Halloween fun.

Police Officer

Have a child who’s obsessed with police officers? Turn that love into a cool Halloween costume for kids! This is another easy costume, requiring just a few items: black or camo tactical pants, a t-shirt, boots, and a tactical police vest. Don’t skip out on the Halloween costume accessories! Themed kids’ accessories, such as a police play set with a fake badge and toy gun, elevate their police costume to a whole new level.

Marine – Platoon Leader or Formal Officer

The best kids’ Halloween costume ideas are often military-themed. Take a Marine costume, for example. Your kid will feel like a real-life heroic Marine in their “woodland” or desert digital combat costume! They could even be a platoon leader and gear up with their combat vest, backpack, and personalized dog tags.

Want to go in a different direction with this kids’ costume? Get your child their very own dress blues, complete with blue coat, blue pants, and white belt. It’s a great way to honor our Marines – and look sharp while doing it!

Top Gun/Military Pilot

Preparing for takeoff in 3, 2, 1! Their costume is a one-and-done with a flight suit from Army Surplus World. These suits come with multiple pockets and hook and loop tabs to adjust the suit to their perfect fit. Add some sunglasses and a custom name patch to finish off this cool Halloween costume for kids.

This is a fan-favorite costume because it not only works for Halloween but also for activities like paintballing and laser tag!

Special Ops or SWAT Officer

SWAT and police costumes are among the coolest kids’ Halloween costume ideas, letting your child feel like they’re part of an elite unit ready to protect and serve. These costumes usually include:

• Black tee printed with “SWAT”
• Black or camo tactical pants
• SWAT ball cap or kids’ tactical helmet
• Name tape
• SWAT team tags or personalized dog tags (optional)
• Accessories, such as play handcuffs or a toy gun

Navy SEAL

Hooyah! If your child dreams of joining the Navy’s elite squad, this is the perfect kids’ Halloween costume idea for them! This salute-worthy costume will make them look just like the brave men and women who serve. So much so that they’re guaranteed to wear their costume until they outgrow it! Their costume should include:

• Black BDU pants
• Black Navy SEALS shirt
• Black tactical vest
• Tactical boots

Accessories would make their Navy SEALS costume even better! Consider adding dog tags, an adjustable helmet, or even face paint if you’re going all out. Our wide selection of children’s costumes online has everything you need to complete a cool Halloween costume for kids, making your Halloween shopping easy.

Sailor

A sailor costume is another cool kids’ Halloween costume idea, especially if you’re a Navy family or have a future sailor! They’ll feel like they’re on duty when they put on a Navy Working Uniform (NWU). These uniforms consist of trousers and a shirt in the NWU III camouflage pattern and an 8-point cap. You’ll also want to add black boots to give it an authentic look.

Cool Halloween Costumes for Kids

Need more kids’ Halloween costume ideas? Army Surplus World offers a wide range of costumes and accessories for the entire family, including Top Gun costumes, NASA costumes, and more. These costumes are not only affordably priced but also offer a durable construction. Made from quality materials like cotton and ripstop, you can trust that their costumes won’t fall apart after a single wear. This means they can enjoy their costumes well after Halloween ends, whether they use them for a themed birthday party, costume party, school dress-up day, or everyday play and wear. Explore our kids’ Halloween costumes now for more ideas!