Klarinet Archive - Posting 000263.txt from 2007/09

From: "Bill Foss" <billfoss47@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Military Bands
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:06:08 -0400

NO, that is NOT true for Marine Corps line bands. I repeat what I emailed
earlier, if you are a Marine, you are a Rifleman FIRST !

I am personally acquainted with about 50 folks who are either current Marine
Corps line bandsmen or just out of the Corps (in the last 12 months or so)
in ranks of E4 through E8. EVERY ONE of them has served at least one tour
in a combat zone carrying a rifle.

This includes the E7's and E8's with max enlisted efficiency reports.

No matter WHAT ANY Marine Corps recruiter tells you, the ONLY way you can be
a musician FIRST in the US Marine Corps, is to be assigned to either "The
President's Own" (the Marine Band stationed in DC) or the Marine Corps Drum
and Bugle Corps (also stationed in DC).

The ONLY thing a Marine Crops enlistment contract guarantees you as the
enlistee is that:

1 - your first assignment upon successful completion of Boot Camp will be
to the Marine Corps Element of the Armed Forces School of Music, and

2 - that upon SUCCESSFUL completion of that training that your next 12
months will be spent in a Marine line band.

After that, you are "fair game" to "the needs of the Marine Corps."

Also, if you do not successfully complete any of your training, you can be
reassigned to "the needs of the Marine Corps."

Bill Foss
US Army Retired

USC Aiken, Woodwind Professor
Director of Bands, Aiken Prep

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vincent Horrillo" <clarinetman@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] Military Bands

> All of you that say you have heard of people being transfered out of
> the Marine Bands to go to Iraq, can you give me a bit more details.
> Like what they got on their audition, where they were stationed, how
> well they got along with their superiors, and possibly their ASVAB
> score. For what I am aware of, those are the most common factors that
> decide whether you stay or go.
>
> On 9/29/07, Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net> wrote:
>> Bill,
>>
>> I second that and offer another story. I just had a former clarinet
>> and bassoon student knock on my door about a week ago. He too had
>> joined the Marines with the intension that he was going to be a
>> musician somewhere, happily playing his clarinet. He informed me that
>> he had just gotten back from guard duty in Iraq. He has about a year
>> left, but it will probably be spent stateside. He has no intentions
>> of staying with the Marines once his hitch is up. So much for tooting
>> a happy tune on your horn.
>>
>> Richard Bush
>>
>> On Sep 29, 2007, at 5:03 AM, Bill Foss wrote:
>>
>> > PLEASE listen to what Tom has said. He has literally, "been there
>> > and done that" for over 20 years !
>> >
>> > I spent 27+ years in Army Bands of all types (Division, Post,
>> > National Guard, West Point, DC, and the Field Band) and I totally
>> > second everything Tom wrote. Today, as a college Woodwind Teacher,
>> > I steer ALL of my students who are interested in entering the
>> > Military AWAY from the Marine Corps "band" program. The Marine
>> > Corps is a fine Military Service. You should just remember that
>> > EVERY Marine is a rifleman FIRST - and that is in Marine Corps
>> > doctrine.
>> >
>> > Students of mine have most recently won auditions and joined the
>> > Naval Academy Band, The US Military Academy Band (West Point), The
>> > Air Force Band (DC) and the Coast Guard (Academy) Band. These are
>> > all fine musical organizations where the members are musicians FIRST !
>> >
>> > Bill Foss
>> > U.S. Army Retired
>> > USC Aiken Wodwind Professor
>> > Director of Bands, Aiken Prep
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Puwalski" <tski1128@-----.com>
>> > To: <klarinet@-----.org>
>> > Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 11:15 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [kl] Military Bands
>> >
>> >
>> >> Do not join a Marine band if you're not going to the Barracks in
>> >> downtown DC. YOU WILL BE INFANTRY!!!!!! Real marine musicians are
>> >> prohibited by regulation from carrying weapons. Unless you
>> >> really want to defend the constitution against all enemies,
>> >> foreign, domestic and imaginary and take a nice vacation in the
>> >> desert! Trust me on this! Saying anything to get someone in the
>> >> service is a favorite thing recruiters like to do. Back in the
>> >> late 70s army recruiters would pass people on the audition and
>> >> they let the school of music re classify them when they weren't
>> >> good enough to make it through. If you really want to go in the
>> >> military where they shoot people and break things have them teach
>> >> you a trade that you can use when you get out. Refrigeration
>> >> repair! First freezing day, you can't get your heat pump fixed,
>> >> first hot day, you can't get your AC fixed.
>> >> I would not encourage any of the kids I know to do anything to
>> >> do with the "real" military until we have a commander in chief
>> >> that's not a total idiot!
>> >>
>> >> Tom Puwalski, the artist formerly known as Sarge-- Dean of Tom's
>> >> School of Clarinet and refridgeration repair! Graduates might
>> >> not get Larry Comb's job ---- but you can fix his heat pump! and
>> >> trust me he'll pay you more to get his heat working in a Chicago
>> >> suburb that you'll pay for a clarinet lesson!
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Sep 28, 2007, at 10:37 PM, Vincent Horrillo wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> I again talked to my Marine recruiter. Apparently the auditioner
>> >>> thought I was good enough for the '3.0' so I am now fully able to
>> >>> pick
>> >>> my duty station. Furthermore, the auditioner gave me a 10,000$
>> >>> enlistment bonus.
>> >>>
>> >>> I know the money shouldn't really be a huge factor in my
>> >>> decision, but
>> >>> I do have a question:
>> >>> My recruiters told me they only gave this bonus out to very few
>> >>> individuals. I personally don't think I did that well on my
>> >>> audition.
>> >>> So, are they really in that much need for clarinets or is this bonus
>> >>> more common then I am let to believe.
>> >>>
>> >>> On 9/26/07, Vincent Horrillo <clarinetman@-----.com> wrote:
>> >>>> Kevin:
>> >>>> I know I am young and inexperience, that is why I am asking you
>> >>>> guys
>> >>>> these questions. Though, I never said I planned on making a living
>> >>>> playing my clarinet. If I were to get a performance degree, I
>> >>>> would be
>> >>>> playing in a military band for X amount of years. After that I
>> >>>> would
>> >>>> want to get my teaching degree and teach after the military. I also
>> >>>> have other plans if I decide not to go into music.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Michael:
>> >>>> Yes I am absolutely willing to get better at my skills at being a
>> >>>> musician and at playing my instrument. I will concentrate and
>> >>>> practice
>> >>>> to enhance my abilities.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> On 9/26/07, Michael Rasmussen <mikeraz@-----.com> wrote:
>> >>>>> Vincent Horrillo wrote:
>> >>>>>> My question still remains though:
>> >>>>>> ...
>> >>>>>> Would it be more beneficial to start of
>> >>>>>> my Performance degree instead of my current choice of Music
>> >>>>>> Education?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> With your stated (implied?) goal of getting into a top notch
>> >>>>> military band
>> >>>>> with path do you think will concentrate on enhancing your
>> >>>>> musicianship and
>> >>>>> performance skills?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Michael 'love being Socratic in the morning' R
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> --
>> >>>>> Michael Rasmussen, Portland Oregon
>> >>>>> Be appropriate && Follow your curiosity
>> >>>>> http://www.patch.com/words/
>> >>>>> The fortune cookie says:
>> >>>>> As the trials of life continue to take their toll, remember
>> >>>>> that there
>> >>>>> is always a future in Computer Maintenance.
>> >>>>> -- National Lampoon, "Deteriorata"
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

------------------------------------------------------------------