Posted by Santos on September 02, 2003 at 06:09:03:
In Reply to: Armed Forces posted by :) on September 01, 2003 at 19:08:58:
I am a U.S. Army tuba player stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. In my band, we travel all over Europe. You get to see places and things you've only read about in books or seen on TV. As a military bandsman, you get: 30 days paid vacation a year....free medical and dental for you and your family.....a wide variety of assignments, from Europe to Asia to the Pacific and so on (subject to availability and needs of the Army). Does all this sound tempting? Take Mr. Chuck Jackson's advice; also, sit down and write out PRO's (for getting in a military band) and CON's (for not getting in a military band). If your whole purpose is to join just for the college money, then so be it, but be prepared to perform your primary job, which is being a SOLDIER. Yes, this means getting dirty, following orders, doing physical training every day, etc. Could you deal with all this on top of your musical requirement? Remember the PRO's and CON's. If there's one thing that military bands do not need is have people enlist just for the college and loan payback AND have a "short timer's attitude" from their first day on the job onwards. If you can't be a soldier BUT can play your horn, then a military band is not for you; you need to do and be both. Take it from a guy who's been in 11 + years and counting.