 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: APiratesLife4Me
Date: 2014-10-20 04:46
Hi everyone,
I am a senior about to finish my Bachelor's in clarinet performance at Arizona State University. I've had military bands in mind as a possible next step for a while, but from talking to recruiters (especially those who aren't actually musicians) and other people I've gotten a lot of mixed messages about what to expect. So I thought I'd ask some of you for clarification. I've read previous threads, but I wanted to ask some more specific questions. So here goes:
- Which of the bands/branches can send you into combat zones? How likely is that to happen? Can you choose whether you're willing to be deployed? Basically, can you join without risking putting your life in danger at some point?
- How do the Reserve and National Guard bands work? Is it basically the same as active duty bands, but part time?
- How competitive is it to get into the different bands? As someone with a Bachelor's but not a Master's, would I have any shot at getting into a premier band?
- This is going to seem shallow, and you might think I shouldn't be considering military if it's something I care about...but I have really long (butt-length) hair and I'm really not willing to cut it. I know that the Navy is the only branch that makes you cut your hair (right?), but would having this much of it still be a problem? I can't help thinking that it wouldn't fit into helmets.
- Do they accommodate vegetarians (I'm mostly thinking of basic training)?
I have a feeling I'm forgetting some questions, but this is a start! Thanks in advance for any light you can shed.
- Ashley
Post Edited (2014-10-20 04:49)
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2014-10-20 06:16
I'm in the Army Band currently stationed in Japan, so here's how the Army works.
Some bands deploy and some do not. What you do on deployment can vary, and I'm sure others will have more to say on that. I have not deployed in my 5 years in the Army. You really can't choose if you deploy or not. If you happen to get into a band that does not deploy, then it's a non-issue. The ability to choose your station comes and goes, and whether it's a option now or not, you'd have to talk to an Army Band Liaison. Some people go their whole careers without deploying. One thing I want to stress is that if you join, your job will be the band doing band things. On deployment that shouldn't really change. The worst I've heard about is being put in some guard tower or at a gate. You won't be breaking down doors and doing that sort of thing; that's infantry business.
Reserve and National Guard Bands are part time. Chris Nichols, who posts on here sometimes, could tell you all about them.
It can be competitive but if you play well and meet the standards then you should be fine. It's a good job with steady pay. Lots of highs and a few lows, but I really have no regrets.
Your hair length is not an issue in the Army, however, I suspect after wrapping it up in a bun over and over you might decide to shorten it. I know plenty of women with long hair though.
Being a vegetarian in Basic training might be hard, but it is doable. You will be incredibly hungry and will risk getting injured because of it though. I'm not saying vegetarianism risks injury, just that in that environment working on low calories will be very difficult. When I was there, I ate as much as I possibly could, all my food and anything others were willing to give up. I was always hungry.
One benefit to the Army over the other branches is that you start at E4.
PM me if you have more questions.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2014-10-20 06:42
My former teachers were all in the main service bands in DC so I'm going to suggest that if someone here can elaborate on the differences between the major bands (that is, Air Force Band, Navy Band, Marine Band, Army Band, etc.) and the "unit bands" (not sure what you would call them - the xxth Infanty Band or AF Band of the West, for instance), that would probably be helpful to the OP.
As I understand it they operate quite differently, but I'm surely not an expert on this topic. Just providing some fuel for the conversation.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-10-20 07:02
I was in the Army Field Band 45 years ago at the height of the Vietnam War, so I'm not sure how current my general knowledge of military bands would be, but I don't think the "Special Bands" (the Washington bands, the Field Band and the military academy bands) have probably changed much. In 1969 you first auditioned for the band (they advertise openings and there needs to be one in order to audition). If you were accepted you went to a recruiter and enlisted for the specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Special Bandsman. Somehow (it was long before computers, faxes or any other electronic communication except the telephone) the recruiting processors were authorized to set up the assignment to the band that had accepted you and off you went to Basic Combat Training (except for the Marine bandsmen). Eight weeks later (then - I don't know how long Basic is now) you "graduated" from basic and received your orders (if nothing got messed up) to report to your band.
The special bands were stable assignments - you stayed in that band for your entire enlistment as long as you didn't violate discipline badly enough to be re-assigned. We started after completing basic at E4 and after 4 months were promoted to E5. Most of us were E6 by the time we finished our first enlistment and those who re-enlisted generally were promoted fairly quickly to E7.
The hair wasn't an issue then - there were no women in the bands (they started being accepted shortly after I left). I wouldn't imagine women's hair would be an issue as long as you can make it go under the hat of a Class-A uniform.
Keep in mind, though, that no matter what your primary MOS is, you're part of the U.S. military and ultimately you do what you're told and go where you're sent. In "peacetime" a bandsman isn't likely to be sent anywhere dangerous - you'd be more of a danger to your fellow troops because your combat training would be only minimal.
Karl
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2014-10-20 07:39
Yeah, that's pretty much it. The special bands are like that and the regular army bands are how I described them.
At first glance it might seem that the better deal is the special bands. In many ways it is; the quality of musicians is likely better and the stability in station is appealing. I guess it all depends on how you view things. I like the ability to live all over the world.
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Author: NB
Date: 2014-10-20 08:35
Sorry for off topic, can't keep myself from imagining a conversation between private Joker and sergeant Hartman about possibility of keeping long hair "just because I used to it".
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2014-10-20 10:12
That conversation would never happen because it's not against regulations to have long hair for females.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-10-20 19:30
For the ARMY:
I just had a class on the latest Army regulations for female lengths of hair. Yes, if you make a bun out of it, length does not matter (as long as the bun is not more than 3 1/2 inches straight back from the scalp and cannot be wider than your head). If you do a shorter length, it cannot be more than 1 inch different in length from the front versus the back and the end of the hair cannot extend beyond the "top of the collar" (of the uniform).
My personal recommendation is to contact specialty bands first and take their auditions first (NO recruiter - just contact the band directly). If that does not work out FIRST, then talk to members of regular army bands SECOND (still contact the musicians FIRST.....try to avoid the recruiters for awhile, they don't know much if anything about the bands). Once you have taken a "field audition" with a Band Liaison (for the Army that is) then you can see a recruiter. Recruiter know EVERYTHING about getting you enlisted!
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-10-21 04:35
Paul and Dave pretty much hit the nail on the head.
I'm a SSG over at Fort Jackson. Been in ten years. My first four years were with 1st Cav, two deployments to Iraq (Baghdad).
If you decide not to take the special band auditions, or take them and aren't accepted and are now looking at the regular Army bands, email me. I'm not a recruiter, I have no quotas to fill, and I shoot straight from the hip.
Personally, I love this job. Both the military stuff and the band stuff. I've done some things I don't like and some things I hate, and I've done some stuff that's been really cool and I'd never get a chance to do in any other job in the world. But for me personally, the pros far outweight the cons and I still get to play music.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-10-21 04:52
You guys make me want to go sign up... but that would have needed to be about 40 years ago.
I knew a keyboard guy who joined at the very maximum age allowed (27? 30?) and he was sweating both the medical exam and the rigors of basic training. But he did fine.
Ashley, I wish you all the best. Musicians have been an important part of US military for a long long time. Thanks to all of you who serve.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-10-21 12:39
Don't rule yourself out of any audition. If there is an opening in the US Army Field Band (for example), send in a tape! Most organizations require a preliminary tape to weed out least likely candidates and keep the live audition numbers reasonable (for the sake of everyone involved). So let that aid the process.
Are you a student of Robert Spring?
................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2014-10-21 12:46)
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2014-10-22 00:17
Awesome - I was hoping Alexi would respond...I wasn't sure if you were still around!
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Author: APiratesLife4Me
Date: 2014-10-22 04:28
Thank you everyone for your replies! They are very helpful. Dave, I will email you my follow-up questions based on your post.
clarinetist04 wrote:
> if someone here can elaborate on the differences between the major bands (that is, Air Force Band, Navy Band, Marine Band, Army Band, etc.) and the "unit bands" (not sure what you would call them - the xxth Infanty Band or AF Band of the West, for instance), that would probably be helpful to the OP.
Yes, that would be very helpful, if anyone could, please!
As far as the hair, I know there's technically no length limit but I'm just worried that mine won't physically fit. It's pretty thick. :-P Can it go inside the hat? I think I usually see it under, on the outside.
Yes Paul, I am a student of Robert Spring. :-)
Thanks again everyone! This really helps; I'd be grateful for any/all more information and opinions!
- Ashley
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-10-22 06:49
The 'special bands' are all excellent musical organizations that really only perform music. The Marine Band is unique in that it is the only service band whose members DO NOT attend basic training (Coast Guard may not as well, but they are technically Dept. of Transportation.......Homeland Security now?).
In the regular active duty bands, the Air Force is unique in that you probably could wind up being in one band for an entire career (partly because there are so few). The other services force you to move to another unit every 2 or 3 years. You can request certain assignments but in a 20 year career chances are you'll have to go places you really didn't want to go. The Army and the Marines are put a healthy emphasis on the military side of the house as well. You have to maintain current weapons qualifications, physical fitness standards and be competent in basic soldiering tasks. This comes in handy if (when) you are in a unit that gets deployed (usually a Division Band).
One further bit that can be a distraction to playing music is that the longer you stay in, the greater rank and responsibility that you will be expected to carry. This entails less playing time due to the greater amount of time you need to put into being a "leader" (which has its own set of rewards, so this really is a mixed bag).
All in all it is a decent job that allow musicians the chance to ply their trade while doing things that most people never get a chance to do.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: clarinetfixer
Date: 2014-10-24 05:26
Paul Aviles wrote:
> The 'special bands' are all excellent musical organizations
> that really only perform music. The Marine Band is unique in
> that it is the only service band whose members DO NOT attend
> basic training (Coast Guard may not as well, but they are
> technically Dept. of Transportation.......Homeland Security
> now?).
USMB and USCG Bands do not go to basic.
>
> In the regular active duty bands, the Air Force is unique in
> that you probably could wind up being in one band for an entire
> career (partly because there are so few).
In regards to the USAF, we have 9 regional bands and 1 premiere band. Very unlikely that you would stay at a band in the career field for your entire career. You will still move every so often, and will also have an overseas tour at some point when the clarinet slot comes open (Germany is very competitive for that slot).
My personal feeling is that I'd only want to be in the DC premiere bands and/or the premiere bands at the USCG Academy, or USMA at Westpoint.
If I had to do regional/fleet bands, I'd only do USAF or Navy.
As for deploying, from a USAF perspective, in DC, as just a clarinetist...you probably will never deploy. You'd have to play some auxiliary instrument and volunteer. In the field, same thing...the only clarinet players I've known to deploy were doubling, or serving as the Director of Operations.
As to your initial concerns regarding hair...if you go to basic...it will be shaved off. Period.
If you really want to choose hair over a great job with amazing benefits...
Good Luck!
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2014-10-27 21:49
I can't really give any advice here being in London, but I would like to put it out there that if anyone from the UK (or a Commonwealth country!) is reading and might be thinking about joining a military band here, please get in touch!
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