Re: Re: Re: Military Band Question


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Posted by The Berlin Wall guy on January 18, 2003 at 18:39:43:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Military Band Question posted by John Cradler on January 18, 2003 at 17:24:09:

Good post, John. Pass on my best to Tom Holtz if he's still honking up there with you.

The following are just a few musings on the part of an old soldier that realizes very few can pay their mortgages performing when, where, and what they choose. They are not the views of the Army and my deepest apology to anyone offended by errors on my part.

I've played for over sixteen years in the "regular" Army band field and have been everywhere from Berlin, Paris, Prague, Saint Thomas, Kuwait City, New York (upstate), Iraq, and Kosovo. There are a lot of ways to get what you want in life and lot of decisions to make. The Army was mine.

Right now I believe that the Army offers a 4 to 8K bonus in addition to loan repayment for having either over 30 or 60 credit hours respectively. It does not apply to spouses, but it is a large amount, 65k. There is also 100% tuition assistance for active duty soldiers. Health care is rather socialist, but better than it used to be. We also either bring in as, or promote after music school, all of our soldiers to pay grade E4 (out of 9). Not sure what that pays these days, but I believe around 16-18k per year starting and you don't ever have to wear lederhosen or funny hats (that's for you, Doug Whitten, I still remember the movie set near Berlin), just green polyester(sic?) You're paid extra for food (240ish? monthly), annual uniform repacement cost (350ish yearly), and get per diem when traveling to performance sites over a cerain time/distance, or overnight. Promotions and annual pay increases start upping the ante and before you know it, you have sixteen years in, make 3k every month (darn near 1k more for housing if you don't score a cushy set of government quarters 500 feet from the beach like I did), have medical and dental coverage, get thirty days of paid vacation every year, and look forward to getting a pension after only 20 years with the Army. Trust me when I say that 20 years goes quickly in life. Too quickly.

These days the Army also has musicians available in the recruiting command instead of just GIs out there trying to land band contracts. Also, the benefits to a recruiter for enlisting a band member are much less than they used to be. We are too much effort and the payoff is minimal if a contract or two can be signed by someone to be a tanker or fuel/petroleum supply specialist in the same amount of time. There are only five or six of these band guys out there, located geographically, and you may have to ask for them. Recruiters are notorious for misleading band applicants (unintentionally or otherwise). Check out the URL or post after me and I'll see what I can find out. The head band liaison to the recruiting command is in VA Beach for the weekend. If you ask fast, I'll pass it on over a beer tonight.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Army bands can and do go into "dangerous" areas. Having said that, I was safer in Kosovo than driving to work in Atlanta. Did you see the footage of "The" Army Band in Afghanistan? We all get our turn somedays.

I have been or not been satisfied musically depending on the other players I was stationed with at a given assignment. Don't fall for the argument that the "good" players are only in a couple of bands. We all rotate from place to place and the quality waxes and wanes in tune with that. Some of the best players I know have never been in Atlanta or VA Beach. Although, in the some units the assignment itself can throw obstacles to playing at the band. Most places we are our own bus drivers, librarians, administrators, supply clerks, etc. That does take a bite out of time to play, and time to train those that should be playing more.

As I said at the start, these are just my views. The military is not everyone's bag. Phil Woods said we're just a bunch of guys that fold our same color underwear all the same way (IAJE, 1990 I think) and take jobs that others would have landed. I guess he really wanted that job playing the pep band version of "I'm Proud To Be An American" at three in the morning as soldiers returned from war. I don't mean to be all gooey and patriotic, but especially these days, there is absolutely no performance like one where families are being reunited after something like that. Military bands come in all shapes and sizes. Some play better than others. Just like tuba players.

Do your homework, find what meets your needs as a person and as a musician. Do that.............



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