 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2008-02-01 00:41
I have seen postings for auditions for select military bands in recent months. These may be silly questions:
Are the top ensembles in each branch stationary or non-deployable? If non-deployable, what exactly does this mean? If one auditions for a band and gets the job, does basic training follow? How long of service is required for a job like this?
I would like some information about the military from people who are serving or have served in the past. I'm asking you all for the sake of avoiding recruiters.
Thanks,
Neal
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Author: hrvanbeek
Date: 2008-02-01 01:31
The top (a.k.a premiere, a.k.a special) bands in each branch are, in fact, stationary and non-deployable. They are permanent positions (or until you want to leave or retire) - meaning you don't move every few years, as is the case in regular (sometimes known as field or line bands). Basic training does follow except in the case of the President's Own of the Marine Corps. Though I do not know the minimum enlistment period of the other services, the minimum enlistment for the Army is 3 years.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-02-01 02:06
Well, I dont know about the whole "non-deployable". While, yes you won't be deployed for a full tour in iraq, when I was there with my army band, the United States Air Force Band sent their rock band on a 30 day tour of iraq.
It was plainly just playing music, with bodyguards ecorting them around bases and taking helicopters everywhere, but depending the on the group and what's decided, you COULD be sent to a war zone. It would be for a very short time (probably a month tops) and it would be COMPLETELY focused on performing for the troops.
Just saying that while those people may not have been to a war zone every before, and may not go to a war zone again throughout their career, there WAS a rock band from a premier band (United States Air Force Band) that was there with us for 2 days in Baghdad. And before/after that they were going to other bases in Iraq.
Alexi
1st Cavalry Division Band
PS - Not trying to scare you in any way, and as a clarinet player I highly doubt you'd EVER be sent to a war zone from a premier band. They're more likely to send music that would be very popular among troops and in high demand for audiences. And clarinets aren't quite it. Rock band yes, latin band yes, perhaps a dixie band or big band, but classical? Not quite what the majority of troops are clamoring for. As an army clarinetist, I spent the majority of my time playing transcriptions for popular music in my WWQ over there with a few VERY recognizable classical pieces thrown in the mix.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-02-01 12:19
Ok, to overclarify even further, when one "deploys," one is sent to a theatre of operations (like oh, let's say Iraq) with a ruck sack and duffle bag filled with military gear such as chemical suit, gas mask, e-tool (small shovel), M16 A2 (this is a a gun, not a mouthpiece) etc.
Premiere touring bands won't show up with this stuff (or have need for it)......period.
To be fair, most of the most current missions for the "deployed" bands have been musical lately and until just a few months ago there had not been a single Army Band casualty. And the casualty, by the way, was musician grazed in the face by a stray bullet.......no mortalities.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Daniel Frazelle
Date: 2008-02-01 16:22
Hi, Neal. I'm one of the newest members of the United States Navy Band in D.C. and I have a number of friends in the other premier bands in the area, so I think I can answer your question. Let me first say, though, that these are not silly questions. You're right to learn as much as you can as early as possible because there are some things people don't realize and in many cases the situation in premier bands is better than you might think.
To answer your main question about deployment, in theory all of the premier bands "could" be deployed except for the Marine Band and the Coast Guard Band. This is extremely unlikely, however, for a couple reasons. The first reason is that these groups all have very specific missions to accomplish in the D.C. area or through touring. Taking them away from these duties for any significant length of time is not practical for the military. Secondly, from a combat standpoint, members of premier bands simply aren't equipped with the same training as other members who go to specialty schools after basic training and maintain some of those skills over the years. I wouldn't necessarily be financially viable to train and send those musicians. Other band units in the armed forces have been sent on tours, but I don't believe this would happen for premier bands. Yes, an Air Force group from D.C. did go to Iraq recently, and I believe something is in the works for one of the premier Army bands, but these are shorter stays that couldn't be considered true deployment, as Paul says. For all intents and purposes, you can think of the premier bands as "non-deployable."
If someone wins a job in a premier band, the next step will be getting medically cleared and to go through basic training, except for the Marine and Coast Guard bands. For some, this is a little daunting and can scare them away from the auditions, but I must emphasize that basic training is not that difficult and goes by quickly. When you get out, you're in a fantastic musical organization and steady job and boot camp fades into memory rapidly. I tell everyone that it is definitely worth it. The minimum enlistment in the Army is 3 years. For the Navy, Marines, and Air Force it is 4 years.
I hope this helps. As others have attested on this board, it is a fantastic job to have for a variety of reasons. I know very few people in my band ever want to leave. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions, or use the information provided in audition announcements to get answers.
Daniel Frazelle
The United States Navy Band
Washington, D.C.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-02-01 20:10
Hello,
You've gotten excellent feedback already. If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact me directly. I'm in the US Naval Academy Band. By the way, no basic training for the Coast Guard band either. Good luck!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Blake Arrington
Date: 2008-02-02 14:15
Neal,
I want to clarify information about the United States Air Force Band, of which I have been a member for almost 2 years. We are a premiere military band...this meaning that as soon as you win the audition and go through basic training (you will be a member of the drum and bugle corp flight during basic) you will arrive in DC as an E-6, or Technical Sergeant (most leave basic training as an E1,2 or 3).
The US Air Force Band in DC is a part of the state funeral plan. This means that our primary duty is to provide musical support following the death of a sitting or former President. Because of this, we are not a deployable unit...we must be able to organize and perform in a short amount of time. That being said, we do have 2 deployable components of the US Air Force Band in DC. There are 7 total units in the USAF Band...The Concert Band, Ceremonial Brass, Strolling Strings, Airmen of Note, Silver Wings (country band) and Max Impact (Rock band). Silver Wings and Max Impact rotate their deployment...basically one of them is over there once per year and it rotates to the other group the next year.
Please email me if you have any questions... jbaclarinet@yahoo.com.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-02-02 22:04
Max impact is who I saw. VERY good rock band. Excellent. Drew a very good crowd outside the dining facility in Baghdad.
Blake (or someone else in a premiere band),
Just to clarify for myself and anyone else who was wondering? How often are bands sent TDY for performances? And if so, typically how long? AND (last question I swear) what types of places (in the US usually I assume, but overseas? Just curious . . . )
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Daniel Frazelle
Date: 2008-02-02 23:34
Speaking strictly about the concert bands of each service/units:
The Army Field Band tours approximately 100 days of the year. This is typically broken up into a couple 6 week tours and a couple smaller ones.
It's my understanding that the The United States Army Band (D.C.), the United States Military Academy (West Point), the Air Force Academy Band, and the Naval Academy Band do not tour an extensive amount.
The Marine Band just shortened their annual tour to approximately 30 days.
The Navy Band also has an annual tour that varies, but is close to a month in length.
Blake should be able to answer about The Air Force Band, as I'm not too certain off the top of my head.
These groups tour all over the U.S. It's rare to perform overseas, although there are exceptions, such as the military tattoo in Stockholm and other special global events.
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Author: Blake Arrington
Date: 2008-02-03 02:44
We go on two tours a year. They are usually 14-18 day tours. As for other AF groups going TDY...the Airmen of Note have gone to the desert a few years back...that was 30-40 days if I remember correctly.
Most of our tours are CONUS...however the orchestra and singers always have the possibility of traveling OCONUS...there are regional bands OCONUS...so I doubt the entire Concert Band would travel.
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Author: hrvanbeek
Date: 2008-02-03 03:51
Translation:
CONUS = Continental United States
OCONUS = Outside the Continental United States
:)
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Author: Joseph LeBlanc
Date: 2008-02-03 04:01
Neal,
I'm a member of the DC Marine Band. It looks like most of your questions have been covered but if you have a specific question drop me a line.
We don't have any clarinet auditions on the near horizon but we'll probably have some openings in the next year or two.
-Joe
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2008-02-03 19:09
Thanks for all the information. I think that covers everything. I have a new question now...
I want to assume that if you audition for any pro ensemble you still have the option of turning down the offer?? Am I right to assume this?
The reason I ask is because when I get closer to graduating, I would like to audition for some professional jobs, but I am also considering graduate school. So I need to be able to keep my options open.
Thanks,
Neal
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-02-03 19:47
You're in the clear UNTIL you've signed an elistment document.......then you belong to Uncle Sam.
Remember, you must audition directly with the specialty band for whom you want to play. You win the audition first, then you have to render a decision. All things being equal, there is a lot of competition out there right now. If you do win a seat in a premiere band.......TAKE IT (you can enlist for as little as three years). Any way you look at it, it's great experience.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-02-04 13:10
Hello,
The US Naval Academy Band does not tour. Our job is to support the Naval Academy. That being said, we do play concerts on Sundays in the summer in run-out concerts--never (since I've been in the band, anyhow) overnight.
There is very little "military" about what we do. Other than respecting others (like in any job--except that the consequences are more serious), going to boot camp, wearing a uniform (like most jobs, only with medals, etc.), and being required to maintain physical standards, the job is very much like a "civilian" job in performing music.
It's an excellent career, in my opinion.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: clarinetfreak
Date: 2008-02-04 19:47
Just to piggyback off of what Paul Aviles said, when you see your recruiter make sure you get everything in writing and make sure you follow up with everything he/she said he/she will do. Most recruiters are really good people, but sometimes you get ones that are not as informed (espeicailly about the preimiere bands) or will tell you things that aren't necessarily the whole truth.
I play with Ben Redwine in the Naval Academy Band, and for the most part I really love the job, but I did have some problems initially because my recruiter did not file something she said she did.
Good Times!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-02-05 00:29
if you ARE interested in a military band, your recruiter should know a "band liason" to go through. They are the ones who typically will audition you for the band field (it's one of the few jobs in the military where you need to pass an audition for it and not just have a certain score on the standardized test). The Liason is usually (probably ALWAYS, but I'm not 100% sure) someone from the band field who will be able to tell you about the bands. Heather VanBeek, above, was an army band liason. She did not audition me, but I contacted her with questions and she answered them all as best she could and answered every question I had.
Best bet is to get the information straight from the source. Interested in playing clarinet for X ensemble, contact a clarinetist from THAT ensemble. One of them will probably be more than willing to pass along information and as a performer in that ensemble, their information will probably be VERY accurate (provided you ask for facts and not their opinions or "thoughts" on issues).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-02-05 02:42
Hello,
The Navy doesn't have liasons. I'm not sure about the other services, besides the Army. If you wish to join the military in the music field, it will do you well to befriend someone in the system to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Blake Arrington
Date: 2008-02-05 16:25
I can only answer from my own experience. Once I won the audition, I had a "sponsor" assigned to me from the band. That person helped me with any questions, paperwork I needed, and other preparations to make a smooth transition in the military. I did have to go through a local recruiter, but I had my sponsor in the band who they had to answer to if anything went wrong.
I don't know if our regional bands do the same process...I'll do some investigating and post when I find the answer.
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