Top 6 Weird Facts About American Military Bands

[@SirJarlsburg]

Army National Guard band here. The last point about rank not aligning with musical skills is spot on. Mainly because there are only X number of spots per unit for E-5’s and up. And none of them ever leave until they retire. So I literally entered the unit at E-4 (that’s how the army do for college grads)…and spent my entire 6 year contract at E-4 cause no spots opened up. The rate of advancement was glacial. Which is also why almost all of the competent professional musicians leave after their initial contract. It’s annoying as hell to be constantly under the command of people who are objectively worse at their job than you. Which is true if any job, but in the Army it’s by design.

[@matthewdorais3076]

I came in as an E4 also, had to wait 12 years to finally get promoted.

[@champagne213]

Wow. That's completely different from when I was in the corps back in the early 00's. I went from E-2 to E-5 in 3 years and didn't even have to try. I'm assuming more people are staying in longer due to the ultra competitive (over saturated) music market now.

[@msmeyersmd8]

Why no 0-1 with a college degree after a Music style OCS? I suspect there are very few Officer slots allocated by the DOD/Marine Corp for Bands. I am also surprised that the Army, and even National Guard has to to do requalifications and are sent into Combat whereas the Marines are not. A friend of mine from Med School on Military Scholarships had vastly different experiences. But we were both in during the Reagan/Bush I years. We were Lucky. I feel embarrassed when I see what has been done to our troops since 2003. ME: US Air Force (family tradition) My Dad was a retired O-6 SAC Pilot. After a 30 day, dare I say, leisurely OIC. That was it. As I had played Trumpet in Marching Bands from 7th Grade through College. I did get to "lead" the first group in the graduation parade. Woo Hoo. As AF doctors, we were just told to be a decent person and act like an officer while wearing a decent uniform and shoes...that I took off immediately upon arriving at work. We did have PT tests. Sit-ups and running a mile and a half every 2 or 3 years. I shot an M-16 and a .38 revolver one time each. I married an E-5. Not in my Chain of Command. No hassle. They did force her out of her remaining enlistment very quickly (within a week) which was a bummer because they lied and told me there were no openings for her in the hospital I was assigned to. The USAF Academy Hospital. I guess they didn't want to infect the Cadets with fraternization sex fever. That apparently didn't work as history reveals that men and women living and working in close quarters will find a way. The USAF Academy has had its share of scandals since then. Some good. A lot Bad. That's a real shame. Even my Dad thought that anti-fraternization rules, outside of the chain of command, were stupid rules. Especially in the 1987 Medical Corp where there were so many women in the military compared to the 1950s. MY FRIEND : US Army. Much different OIC Course. A 30 day grind where it was driven into his head that he, and everybody else in the Army, was a soldier first. And a doctor second. Lots of daily PT including the obstacle course and rifle qualification. Yearly PT tests and yearly rifle qualifying. Even when he was the only MD at Ft Irwin. It makes military sense, I guess?

[@gianbailey969]

Video 45 of commenting until EMC makes a front ensemble out of spocks

[@aytoad]

Yes

[@christianshaffer3723]

I don't think he can afford that. That's expensive

[@julianrakowskijevdh4373]

I support this message

[@EndlessLOL07]

@@christianshaffer3723 well be can do his green screen magic and use 1 spock for everything

[@Bike_Chain]

@@christianshaffer3723 how could he possibly not afford that, the man is a fulltime KZbinr and ex military and has a nice ass beard

[@rs232killer]

I went through Navy Boot camp with a guy who had a PHD in music and had been an award winning band director. He was recruited specifically to play in the "Navy Band" in Washington DC. He was too old to be commissioned directly at the outset so they made him an E-6 right out of boot camp, and would be E-7 eligible shortly thereafter.

[@kingdome124]

I don't know about today, but back in the 70s, that kind of shenanigan was not unheard of. I was recruited as an oboe player (O2H), trained as an oboe player, then assigned as a clarinet player (O2J). Later when I was transferred to the 30th Army Band in West Germany I found that I was now a trumpet player (O2B) When I auditioned for a band at Fort Campbell, Ky, I played the oboe for the audition. The commander WANTED an oboe player in his band. After basic, I was sent to the Armed Forces School of Music at Little Creek where I was trained on the oboe. When I was assigned to the band at Ft. Campbell where I had auditioned I was given the MOS of a clarinet player because the band WAS NOT AUTHIORIZED to have an oboe player. But, the commander had been in the service many years and knew where the bodies were buried. (so to speak). Later I had done a good job in the mail room and to reward me with a promotion (to E-4) the commander changed my MOS once again since he had no slots for an E-4 clarinet player, but he did have a slot for an E-4 trumpet player. All this was news to me. I only found out when checking into my new unit in Germany. The supply sergeant looked at my records and handed me a trumpet. I looked at him and asked "what's this for? I don't know nuthin bout no trumpet.!" My new boss was delighted to find that I was an oboe player since he WAS authorized to have one. As far as education levels in the band, in my first full assignment as a bandsman, in 1970 I was one of about 5 people in the unit (28 men) who did NOT have a college degree. The Commander, the First Sergeant, two Platoon Sergeants and me. I had completed 4 years of college but needed one more semester of practice teaching to obtain a bachelor's degree in music.

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

Well, being being hire in any of the DC bands in an automatic rank of E-6 anyway. I don't think a lot of people realize this for some reason.

[@christinashelby6083]

My husband was Air Force for nine years (one enlistment!), separated just before you did. Pretty sure he has to test on the range regularly, as did everyone else; he was armed every day for the first few years he was on, so it was easy, but I remember him talking about helping out some fellow airmen who were more accustomed to the desk life. Marching is another thing thatany other service members don't do after leaving basic, lol. Also, going through basic, since he had a college degree already, he entered as an E-3 while everyone else had to wait till graduating from basic to put on those two stripes. And since we were already married, and I was back in Philly, yeah, BAH was nice:-D He was definitely raking it in compared to the other guys in his training squadron!

[@christinashelby6083]

I was wrong--only those who had to stay rifle-ready needed to test, so he was helping someone deploying.

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

I was a USAF Security Police for four years. Went to the range TWICE. Never shot the M-203 after combat school despite carrying one every day. It amazed me how large the gap was between regulations and reality. But I would say we were still better than Russia.

[@Blindashitmetalasfuck]

Off topic, but I was raised on Death Metal. But YOUR CHANNEL is getting me into marching style percussion instruments. I FUCKING LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. And p.s. TECHNICAL MARCHING DEATH METAL NEEDS TO BE A THING!!! And p.s.2. THE BEARD IS LOOKING METAL AS FUUUUUCK!!!

[@EMCproductions]

Thanks! I do think there are a lot of similarities between marching percussion and metal drumset. We all want chops 🔥

[@Blindashitmetalasfuck]

@@EMCproductions Come to think of it, there was a metal band that had what I think may have been a Tenner player. The bands name was "3". Not a normal band by any stretch. After taking a second look, I don't think they are tenners after all. Some sort of other percussion. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3W5dnuYebujm7M

[@azreele8669]

A nearby Drum and Bugle Corps is arranging a Metallica show for this summer, which I thought was pretty cool. Also, sorry to nitpick, but it's spelt tenors.

[@Blindashitmetalasfuck]

@@azreele8669 That's all useful information as far as I'm concerned.

[@NeilABliss]

It's a little known fact that 70% of a Finnish forest wardens job is finding Death Metal bands that have gotten lost shooting their album covers. Blast beats across a line of basses would be pretty cool.

[@patrickrettger]

There’s definitely a lot of differences with your experiences and mine in the army but overall I appreciate the video. That said, one note. Musicians can still be deployed. My active duty band and a number of other army bands were deployed in Iraq. I also know a National Guard band that was deployed. We do regular rifle qualification and other preparation in case we are sent down range. It doesn’t happen often but it does happen.

[@parmentier1984]

1st Armored Division band member here (2003-2005) Deployed to Iraq for 15 months. Played ceremonies, a Christmas Concert series, sang in the rock band, and did a crap ton of guard duty. A soldier is still a soldier, no matter what their job. Still have to have the same general training as any soldier, as well as be able to preform on your instrument.

[@MrJPEzra]

send in the bards

[@craigcampbell1843]

This is a different topic but related. I joined the Coast Guard (can’t speak for other branches). I was regular enlisted. Not as a musician. But I did play trombone in school so I was given the opportunity to join the recruit marching band. This is only for the time that you’re in boot camp but I highly recommend it if you play an instrument. What we did was march and perform at each week’s graduation ceremony and at events around town during the time we were in basic training. I recommend doing this if you play an instrument because it got us out of …. boot camp and getting yelled at for an hour or two every day for band practice. We were also the only people that ever got to leave base. We played for the 4th of July at the local boardwalk which was fun and we even got to go to a baseball game to perform and got to stay and watch the whole game. It even allowed us to talk to other recruit band members that were ahead of us in their training so they could tell us what was coming so we could mentally prepare for things that were meant to catch us off guard while other people had no idea what was coming. Being in the recruit band made things a lot easier and more fun than it was for the people there that didn’t know how to play an instrument. It didn’t even matter how good we were. If we could play a marching band instrument they wanted us. Again if you’re enlisting for regular service but happen to play an instrument definitely do this if it’s an option. It will make boot camp way more fun.

[@wayneday3116]

I played trumpet in the Naval recruit band, Great Lakes, in the Spring of 1968. (Yes I am an old guy!) Your description sounds pretty much as I remember. Not sure that the Navy still uses amateur musicians to play for boot camp graduations. I understand that there's been many changes for Navy recruits since I was in, so probably not.

[@craigcampbell1843]

@@wayneday3116 I don’t know. I went to basic in ‘97 so that was a while ago too.

[@haukepowers8491]

I was in the US Navy Recruit Drum & Bugle Corp at San Diego in 1976...Company 927 , We joined up with the band during our 5th week , we performed at Friday graduations, Opening Day of Little League ( a big thing in San Diego) , we also played at the Sand Diego Padre/Chargers games...It was great !!!

[@LDrumsOhio]

Over the last twenty years thousands of musicians deployed and did primary and secondary roles. The Marines specifically from 1st Mar Div did a mix of music and support roles during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the Army it’s similar; I was a percussionist but also a convoy gunner, and did quick reaction force while deployed for Iraq. So we’d have gigs at different FOBs while also doing our own security as we join the convoy for transportation to and from. 1st Mar Div specifically did support missions along with the Army 1st Cav, 3rd ID, 10th Mountain and most of the other Divisions. On job security; the Army specifically had guidance that if a person consistently under perform, then get out on mandatory development, you can have your MOS revoked. This happened to a percussionist in my unit that was absolutely terrible after letting her skills atrophy. She got reauditioned by head of Army Bands, Col Palmatier and failed even below School of Music graduation standard. She had three months to find a new MOS or go needs of the Army so she opted for Chaplains Assistant.

[@jimpemberton]

Old Marine fleet band member here (5546). I was 2D Mar Div at Camp Lejune from '87-'91. We all got BAQ because we were often on the road or even not available for chow when the chow hall was open. So we needed money for meals. In the middle of 370+ gigs per year, we also trained in perimeter and internal security, not to be left to guard the base, but to guard Division assets being deployed, particularly staging areas, headquarters and rear positions, etc. That means we had to train hard because we didn't get much time to train. They gave us a maverick 1st Lt from recon to teach us how to defend from even recon tactics. So we were good at security. We were already tight at that time because the band had a significant turnover just before I got there and had a boatload of junior LCpls. The Drum Major at the time would "drill us till the polish melted off our boots or the ambulance came" and dubbed us the "Little End" because we were arranged in the squad bay in rank order. One end was the NCOs and the other was the Lance Corporals. So he would walk into the center of the bay and call down to the "Little End". We mastered how to be belligerent in the most professional way ever. We were tight because we spent all our time together - we still have reunions and get together between times often. Even tonight many of us are gathering in Virginia Beach to help a brother mourn the loss of his wife. All this to say that we were especially good at securing our Division. So when we deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm, we were immediately tasked to establish the camp guard for the staging area in al Jubail. Then we were sent up (half the unit first, then the other half followed as they were relieved at the staging area) to al Kabrit with engineers and cooks to build and secure the 2D Mar Div rear position from where we watched the skirmish at al Khafji. We had ground-based tomahawks next to us who figured into that little battle. From our position, we could see the oil fires in Kuwait, and sometimes the smoke would drift over us. After freeing Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, they sent our instruments up to al Kabrit and we started building our chops back up not having played for a few months. As units began to arrive back from Kuwait, we played for them. Then we went back to the staging area and played for them when they returned. Then we flew back to the States and played for them when they got off the plane. (The band at Cherry Point had stayed in the States and were on hand to play for us.) I wouldn't trade my time in service with these Marines for anything.

[@richardharkness6777]

In 1963 I joined the Navy as a guitarist. Played mostly full big band gigs, but also a lot of combo gigs. Spent 18 months on the USS Forrestal in the Med. We were mostly good will for the United States. Got transferred to Little Creek near Norfolk, Virginia. Spent 2 1/2 years there. Since they don't use guitars in marching bands, I had to play bass drum and cymbals. (yuk) The Navy music school was at that time in Anacostia. It cost me 47 cents to go home every weekend because I was from Maryland. The whole tour was a great experience, and I was happy to offer my talent to my country.

[@juandalepringle1658]

Thank you Eric, I’ve been watching you since the beginning of Seventh grade and now I am just about to March snare for my freshman year and I just wanted to say thank you cause you have made me a better musician

[@jaydeecee421]

In 1965, the 82nd Airborne marched their band through what was essentially an active combat zone in Santo Domingo. I don't think the Dominican rebels fired on the musicians. Maybe they really liked "The Army Goes Rolling Along" or were just stunned that they would just march their band right in like that. I can't think of any recent military band in active combat.

[@brianetheredge7323]

We were deployed to DSS in '89-90, spent about 2 months floating around in the Persian Gulf while Saddam was launching Scuds and avoiding mines/suicide boats. We also had jobs in sick bay, and I did a couple of watches in the MMR spaces (I was a hole snipe before I auditioned into the Navy Music Program). Nothing like what the 82nd did, though...gotta link?

[@kaziiqbal7257]

Well, with the pay, it very much depends on your situation (at least in the army). BAH and BAS are VERY reliant on where you’re stationed and how much things cost and that grunt in the foxhole is also getting combat pay. Also in the British Army, most musicians have secondary combat roles, commonly machine gunner, mortar, and decontamination in case of chemical warfare. My unit over in Connecticut is a state militia unit and while I am expected to play bass drum, I’m also very much expected to know my manual of arms, qualify with a firearm, and deploy to humanitarian missions along with the rifle company and that’s something that our band very much takes pride in. 🇺🇸

[@stlpaulie]

During desert storm the 3rd armored band (us army) deployed right besides the rest of the division. Their primary mission was EPW. They answered to the MPs and served as guards at the POW camps.

[@NeilABliss]

In Canada the working rank is sergeant , ie the rank where you have leadership skills. In theory we have "Wartime" roles...but that may vary from person to person not by trade. In my case I would have been a trainer of new recruits. Most of the other musicians I knew would have been hospital staff both admin and medical. We had our yearly fitness requirements too, these did vary slightly from trade to trade...obviously the highest requirement for fitness was in front line roles. We weren't required to do "Real Army" stuff after basic...but it did look good to the promotion boards. I used to go in the field as a cook, occasionally!

[@malcolmodell3170]

The working rank was Sgt until 2017. It is Cpl now.

[@NeilABliss]

@@malcolmodell3170 I gathered, but didn't know for sure... I got out in the 90's so.....well things change.

[@champagne213]

I was a 5563 (percussionist) in the corps from '99 to '03 on Parris Island. Right after 9-11, our entire unit became part of base security. I was doing checkpoints and patrols with a loaded M-16. Sh*t got real for a little while there.

[@champagne213]

It was also definitely true that the younger guys could out play the older guys. Very often you had someone in charge of you that wasn't as strong a musician, but had been in longer (or had a lower cut score ;-) ). The bar naturally gets higher musically as the years go on. I've heard today the bar is higher than ever, and most guys coming in have at least a bachelor's.

[@LDrumsOhio]

When did you go to SOM? I was there Feb 00-Sep 00. Gunny Mummey was my theory instructor. Department head was SFC Lowery, then there was MU1 Shorgen, and SGT Habib. SGT Ownes was the Marine Corps Platoon SGT (RIP).

[@champagne213]

@@LDrumsOhio I was there Jan to June '00! SSgt Habib was my instructor and Sgt Owens (Chuck Eddy) was my platoon sgt. Gunny Mummy and Flimsy were the best. Feels like another lifetime ago!

[@christinashelby6083]

HOLY CRAP just rewatching some videos while I do other stuff, and how did I miss that I was the t-shirt photo at the end?? Lol awesome.

[@michaelprozonic]

I had a friend who was in the Navy band and spent the Vietnam war in Italy and France performing on TV shows

[@SaxManNate]

It's actually not uncommon for Marine Fleet Bandsman to be deployed. Myself and 6 other Marines from 2D Marine Division Band were deployed with 2D Mar Div HQBN from 2011 to 2012. I know we still had members of our band when I got there that had been deployed to Iraq when the Band was deployed as a full unit.

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

One weird thing I heard second-hand from my college band director, who had been in US Army band: Most military marches have a final note that comes on the downbeat, and it might or might not be written as being repeated on beat 3 (or beat two if written in cut time). But regardless of how it is written, you do play that "button" when performing indoors and do not when playing outdoors. In my imagination at least, that's when the marching cadence kicks in and the wind instruments are tacet. His anecdote was that they were playing in a large arena, but because they were standing in formation with covers on, they were to treat it as if it was outdoors. He didn't get the word, and was the only one to play the button.

[@ctilson176]

I was with Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division from 2004-2007. From Feb 05 to Feb 06 I was deployed to Ramadi Iraq and the 2d Marine Division Band was our guard force for about 6 months.

[@massmanute]

Question: For those military musicians who have to periodically qualify at the rifle range, were you concerned about hearing loss? Is the ear protection at the range adequate to protect your hearing?

[@kingdome124]

Yes, I was always concerned about my hearing. In a 20 year period I probably went to the rifle range about 15 times. I always wore the provided "sponge plugs" and fired away. M-14 in basic and later m-16 on annual quals. I also rode motor cycles, spent time in various military aircraft (C-130s, Hughys, Chinooks, and Sky Cranes (with a people pod) and I always wore hearing protection. 30 years after retiring from the Army (and music) I still hear pretty well. I have some tinnitus, but other than that no particular problem. I suffered more from noise levels on the job where I could NOT wear hearing protection. As an oboe player on stage I sometimes ended up right in front of the percussion section. One very memorable night I was on a lower level of the stage and was under the large crash cymbal of the trap set. Not Fun! After retirement I worked in a shop with power tools, lived on a farm and occasionally used chain saws, trimming saws, tractors, etc. I ALWAYS wear hearing protection. Yes, you can damage your hearing with loud noises, but a major component is genetic in some cases. My wife, also an army musician who served 4 years, is now quite deaf, as was her mother and her grandmother. She wore hearing protection on the range as well. Remember, hearing is damaged from a combination of loud noises AND duration of that loud noise. On the rifle range, you will typically fire three rounds, check your target, then maybe fire three more rounds to verify your "zero". Then you will move to the qualification lanes where you may fire as many as 40 rounds. Firing that many rounds will take you upwards of an hour on the range. And the only rounds you will hear loudly are YOURS. You are spaced enough on the range that the sounds of your neighbors are not really a problem. IMHO people who tell you that their hearing was damaged on the rifle range are full of it. I would look closely at their prediliction for listening to loud music on their ipods, or attendance at rock concerts etc.

[@OldManBolt]

@@kingdome124 Standing in front of the damn drum line was louder then the riffle range. :) God have mercy on the poor bastards in front of the trumpets .. HIGHER LOUDER FASTER!

[@MrJmorris49]

I was issued hearing aids by the Veterans Admin. There were 9 army bands in Vietnam. We qualified on our weapons once a year and also qualified for physical fitness. I attended basic training just like any other soldier. I am proud of my service.

[@JoseHiggor]

"And you can retire at 20 years with full benefits" Omg so cool oomfie

[@kingdome124]

Thats a qualified yes. At 20 years, your retired pay will be 1/2 of your active duty pay. However, you will still qualify for very good medical care for you and your spouse and children in the home.

[@RedDogMamaHD]

1:55 Of course, you scored Expert! 😉

[@shutupsprinkles]

My best friend’s husband is in an army reserve band, and was also active duty for 8 years. He’s had to do annual training for like 2(?) weeks out of the year.

[@tonysolis9616]

He'll have a decent retirement if he continues to 20 years.

[@macmedic892]

3:50 Sometimes it’s good to be a POG. You get to eat the finest crayons!

[@snmfsquirrel87]

"You have to really really screw up to get kicked out" *Nervous Eric noises*

[@matthewdorais3076]

I’m in an Army band, we do pt tests twice a year and qualify on the rifle annually.

[@haukepowers8491]

A NG Staff Sergeant I know goes out annually ...He is a full time Band teacher in Tennessee..

[@andrewschliewe6392]

In the Army, a Division, Corps or Army band, in a war, supplements the MPs providing Command Post security.

[@mweston25]

I was British Army, not a Bandy but I know several that were, they all had a secondary trade. Normally logistics and they would sometimes deploy, it’s quite strange interviewing someone who was a Flute player in the Grenedier Guards Band and they mention Combat Logistic Patrols in Afghanistan.

[@Simon-ho6ly]

Lot of the royal marines band members are similar in a way, many have secondaries around stuff like damage control, casualty care/retreival and the likes so they are still useful when onboard ship for various reasons

[@haukepowers8491]

My daughter who earned a BME was offered to try out for President's Own..when she found out the position would NOT be a OFFICER Commission, but as E-4 , she turned it down..She worked her ass off to earn her degree and the USMC thought nothing of it...She as told the Corp only commission within their "own" schools....She told the recruiter to kiss off...the service schools are compressed versions of regular music schools..wtf !! She is now a professor of music making VERY good money... remember seeing Navy MU retiring as E-5 !!!! 20 years !! Crazy !!!

[@dkjoeyss]

Hello. Former Marine Band musician. I was a fleet band musician served in the 1st Marine Division from 2003-2006. Most of what you said is correct, but I'd like to just correct a couple things. 1st - There are no guns in the barracks. They are held at the armory, but it is a dorm and it sucked. You had an inspection every week and it was a pain in the ass. Second, I was a part of the 1st Marine Division Band which deployed to Iraq I believe 4-6 times, not sure. I went one of those times. We did do those boot camp things multiple times: gas chambers, swim quals, obstacle courses, ect.... In Iraq, we didn't play at all instead we did military/infantry stuff such as convoys, patrols, escorting, and so on. But I was unlucky as most of the bands didn't have to do that stuff. On another note, I was also lied to by my recruiter who told me bands don't deploy, so yea.

[@nathan_caldwell_clarinetist]

In the Army bands, you still have to qualify at the rifle range once a year along with passing the physical fitness test requirements. There’s also enlistment/ reenlistment bonuses for the instruments the Army is in need for (right now the largest bonuses are going to French hornists, oboists, bassoonists and clarinetists).

[@elissahunt]

Seems like they're always low on those instruments. My husband had 26 years in the Army bands (clarinet and sax). They were often so low on clarinets that I, a civilian clarinetist, sat in with many of his bands. I even went on tour with one. Note: It was always for concerts, never ceremonies or anything where I would have had to be in uniform.

[@kingdome124]

@@elissahunt In the Army I played the oboe. When I was transferred for a 1 year tour to Korea from San Antonio, my wife stayed in San Antonio. She also played oboe and though no longer in the Army still had her uniforms. The bandmaster in San Antonio persuaded her to join the band for several concerts in my absence since they didn't have another oboe player.

[@christopherreed3695]

I’m a drummer in an Army NG band. We enlist at E4 and we’re required to hit the rifle qual range annually.

[@TundraTrash]

A million years ago when I was still doing such things, we had a local joke here in Utah in that DABC was our acronym for "drum and bugle corps" but it's also the acronym for "Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control".

[@OldManBolt]

Semper Fi Mac. 89 -97. First 3 years I was part of the Parris Island Marine Band, and yup we did all our training every year. On Rank, it wasn't common that an E3 would be section lead, but if they were musically more talented they would absolute be chaired higher. However, at back in my day (grumpy old man voice), because of the million other military things we did it was still the E4s and -E5s that ran the ship with the SNCO over seeing operations. (Note, I loved doing all that military stuff, why I picked the Marines) When I transition out of the band over to compsci field it was similar. We would get young kids fresh from Quantico Comp Sci School and their tech skills were amazing. I think the key take away is your rank is a representation of your ability to lead Marines and not tied to just how good your were are your technical skills. Though I will say, getting good proficiency ratings from you OIC as an E5 and up might be hard if you suck at your job. Personal I got out after picking up E6 because the computer field pay was just ridiculous at the time. But I loved all 8 years I was in.

[@harrykuheim6107]

The Air Force has to Qualify on the Golf Course every WEEKEND !!! Grueling indeed!

[@NonTwinBrothers]

I love how since 2016 or something this man's intro has been exactly the same

[@prodoverjeff2876]

I had a friend working in my civilian band (on the down low!) and for a few weekends after 911, he was assigned gaurd duty at his Navy base. Yes he was Navy band. He told me he was not armed but was issued a radio. :"HALT, or I'll play this radio!"

[@kingdome124]

When my unit in Germany was assigned guard duty for a headquarters building, we KNEW it was serious when they issued us three bullets! Spoiler - The Baader Meinhoff gang was going strong at that time.

[@Tigerblade2002]

Semper Fi...yes, we are, at some commands, not require to do some area of training save for the Physical Fitness Test and Rifle Qualification. However, it is highly suggested that take it upon yourself to keep proficient in basic military skills through courses.

[@ryanpomeranke389]

I use to be in a civil war band and when we were on tour, we would educate people on the secondary responsibilities of the bandsmen which would consist of medic and stretcher duties taking wounded to aid stations after leading the column to the field of battle.

[@saxmusicmail]

Historically, the musicians were the original Signal Corps.

[@jaerbear7237]

13 years in the active Army Band. Pretty close. We have to keep up with all the Army Standards. As far as deployments (which aren’t happening anymore) it’s really up to Higher Command if you are playing music or pulling some kind of guard duty.

[@elissahunt]

When my husband was in Iraq they played music AND did guard duty. (Mostly perimeter security.)

[@kastrofilms7643]

Are you going to the dci 50th anniversary thing?

[@SillyCrilly]

3:33 Bro only has $2 bills 😭😭😭

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

Fun fact, not only did musicians have combat jobs back in the day, back in THE day their combat job was music. They had to play to signal troop movements during active combat. Charge, retreat, fire, cease fire… these are all standard signals to be drummed, bugled, or fifed from the battlefield. You are also getting shot at potentially while trying to remember the right rudiments to convey orders correctly. Drummers were the walkie-talkies of the pre-electric era. Also my great grandfather was a messenger in WWI. He was an army band member and he had to run messages back and forth in the trenches when he wasn’t playing.

[@BobbySacamano]

I mean, I know you're sick and whatever, but that little intermission from the video at 8:19 was particularly spectacular. No joke I watched it like 15 times. Badass

[@davestrickler5125]

Re bands going to war, the 101st band was in Nam when I was there, ‘68-‘69 (I was not band). They played gigs for hq, of course, but they also dug post holes and put up concertina wire and pulled guard duty. Just fyi.

[@theasianradiooperator]

OH MY GOD. Literally the first time the coast guard was even alluded to as a branch 😭 love that for my branch.

[@elissahunt]

Military bands regularly play a compilation of the Armed Forces' theme songs, Semper Paratus included, If for that alone, military bandsmen are aware the Coast Guard is a legit military branch.

[@trallfraz]

Jay (US Marines 70-74 got out as an E5 sgt), My MOS was Supply Logistics, Barstow CA. However, when i first got to base I got into the band. Many of the regular MOS musicians were just getting back from combat duty Vietnam, so field musicians (back then) went into combat. I was just 17 and never got to go because 18yrs and above went overseas. I never knew this until just 13 years ago from a local musician I played with in Sacramento. Also, while in Barstow, and then FMF Force troops 29 Palms, we never did any PFT, but did, however do the 3 mile run ONCE.. Everyone started out as an E1 private in boot camp. Everyone's pay was bi-monthly.

[@msmeyersmd8]

I love Drum and Bugle Corp. But I wasn't really aware of how sophisticated it had become until the early 1990s. Holy S**t. As a Trumpet player from Jr High through College(1980), I was, literally "Blown Away". I know. I know. What a tired and worn out cliche. But it definitely still applies. I don't know how CV19 affected the last several seasons? It suspect it certainly didn't help. Are any players being given a year or two of extra eligibility for missed or truncated seasons? I have been to many shows. It still instills incredible emotion to see the Excellence and Power that todays Corps demonstrate. It's great to know that Drum and Bugle Corp has influenced the Marine Corp Bands so significantly.

[@barrybena1336]

In the Coast Guard if you are accepted you enlist at E6.

[@maserbantez]

Did not know that about starting pay with marines. In the army, all bandsmen, and people with degrees, enter as E4s, but that's not an NCO rank for army. It is a rank where you may be expected to take on leadership responsibilities though

[@Xenthera]

E4 in the navy got bah when single. Goooooood times.

[@michaelshelley1289]

i'd like to hear you play more of those sextets!!!! the little that you did here was fabulous!!!

[@walterburger5281]

You have to go through Boot Camp and qualify with a rifle because ultimately everyone in the service is an infantry soldier, regardless of your specialty.

[@kleveronefourthreetwo]

Imagine going to boot camp just to play the bagpipes.

[@malcolmodell3170]

It's more like learning to play the bagpipes just so you can one day go to boot camp as the only way to have a stable career playing music.

[@benjaminmcclatchey9814]

Army musicians get automatic promotion to E-4. I went to basic with a musician.

[@donaldgardner849]

I served 2 years in 6th Army Headquarters Band, Presideo, San Francisco, 1965-67. A couple of corrections, at least relative to my time.served, we definitely were required to re-qualify annually on the firing range and pass physical requirements. We also marched in many a parade and I would find it very surprising any military field band not marching as a function of their job. I can, as a number of comments indicate, assure you that military bands do serve in active war zones and some individuals have served with their lives. I believe while I served, there were 5 Army bands serving in Viet Nam.

[@vincent412l7]

Doesn't the military recruit specialists (and college graduates) at E4 (E3 at boot camp)?

[@geckoproductions4128]

Enjoyed the video. How about some behind the scenes in the band stuff. What do you guys do every day?

[@kingdome124]

I've been retired for more than 30 years, but for the 20 years I was in, daily activities followed the same basic pattern no matter where I was stationed. If we were going on a job to play music for anything, that took priority over all other functions. We loaded and departed based on the requirements of the job. If we had a day with no commitment to play somewhere (during the normal duty hours) the first hour or so of the morning would be taken up with mostly what I would call house keeping duties. sweeping floors, emptying trash, mowing the grass, and so on. This was done mostly at the squad level with squads rotating the duties in a more or less equitable fashion. Our internal offices were all staffed with bandsmen. I was at various times, a mail clerk for the band, Training Sergeant, Instrument Repair specialist, Supply Sergeant and First Sergeant. We also had clerks, librarians (for the extensive music library), squad leaders, platoon leaders and so on. Every position was an additional duty on top of playing your instrument. Our own people also did most of the work involved in arranging transportation, quarters, meals and performance times when we were traveling. This mean that in Europe we had to have translators in the unit. Almost all of us played more than one instrument as well. We were also expected to be able to sing too! If/when we did physical training, that was usually prior to 8 am. About 9 we would gather in the rehearsal hall for a couple of hours of rehearsals. The music would be geared to upcoming performances. We would break about 11 or 12 for lunch. After lunch was time for more of our non-musical tasks and for the various combos to rehearse. Every place I was stationed we had at least one combo and some places we had several different combos. Most locations also had a "Big" band in the style Glenn Miller made famous back in the 40s. If one of the smaller groups was performing that evening they would be let off for part of the day to relax and otherwise take care of business. you know, buy groceries, feed the cat, go to the bank, all those things that most people do when they are off work for the day. sometimes due to space limitations, different combos would be rehearsing into the evening Some of the units I was in published a weekly schedule telling us when to be where and what uniform was required at any given time. That was great. You rarely did the same thing every day. Depending on the season of the year and the job requirements you might be wearing as many as 4 different uniforms in the course of a single duty day. I once told my neighbor that I went to work anywhere between 0400 and midnight. and that was the truth. I can remember returning to base at noon from a trip of several days and being told to go home, repack my bags and be back at the unit in 3 hours so we could depart for another trip of a weeks duration.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Fun fact……when I first joined “The President’s Own” in 1991, some of the old-timers told me that band members were formerly allowed to qualify on the shooting range. As many of them were amateur enthusiasts (though none ever went to boot camp), they were pretty good, and were outperforming the Barracks Marines. So…..the CO discontinued that….disallowing the band members from qualifying and earning their marksman medal.

[@robthompson8285]

In the Army, any soldier in any specialty must have fitness and rifle test within 6 months of promotion board date.

[@stlpaulie]

BAH/BAQ is only paid if your base doesn’t have enough housing. I never saw a penny of BAQ because my wife and I lived in base housing. I did get SEP RATS because I didn’t eat in the mess hall but that was only about $250 a month. (1990s money)

[@kingdome124]

most bandsmen drew sep rats in my time because we were frequently on the road and unable to use the mess hall. When I first started drawing sep rats in 1970 it was under $50 a month. of course my pay was pretty low as well. I think my very first full months pay was $86. of course at that time I was getting 3 meals a day and a nice bunk in this very nice room along with 5o or so my closest friends. 8 years later, married, drawing BAH and Sep Rats and 6 ranks higher my wife and I still qualified for food stamps. We never used it, but we were qualified. Fortunately that changed for the much better the next year when a major increase was made to military pay.

[@IrishMcCheez]

When I was in the USMC, it was a requirement to become or retain a Staff NCO rank, you had to either: (a) have been successful on recruiter duty, or (b) completed a successful tour as a drill instructor. Does that apply to Marine Corps musicians as well? While I was on recruiter duty, we had a bombastic 1st Sergeant at the regional recruiter HQ who was part of the Marine Corps band (as a conductor, I believe.)

[@johnsteaveson7566]

Thank you for that great explanation. I regret not investigating the Army or Marines after 2 years with SCV and 3 years with The Blue Devils. Funny thing is that the army REALLY wanted me for my mechanical skills over my ability to play to hit double C’s on a bugle 🤣

[@boomboomdrums]

I was a USMC drummer too 1976-1977. Rank worked a little different for us. Upon graduation from boot camp we were promoted to PFC. Upon graduation from the Armed Forces School of Music we got promoted to Lance Corporal. I'm gonna dispute that bands haven't been deployed since the revolutionary war or whatever. At the Armed Forces School of Music they had memorial for band whose members were all killed when the ship they were on sank during WW II. I have also seen clips on CNN or whatever of bands deployed to Iraq. I am proud that I went to boot camp. Great experience and helped to make me the man I am. I loved my experience and would liked to have stayed longer but got discharged due to a medical condition I got while serving with the 1st Marine Ariwing Band in Iwakuni, Japan. VA takes great care of me now and I got a college degree with the GI Bill. I would also not follow your advice on getting married. Probably not worth the money.

[@UncommonEyes]

Many years ago father stationed in Canada 🇨🇦 with family-USAF. Recall AF band performance there. Nice, appreciated for us stationed in a semi-foreign land. I’m wondering if any military band has bagpipers?

[@taun856]

Retired Army here (not a band guy though) and I've seen several military bands with pipers. I think it's mostly a case of having a band member who came in knowing the pipes rather than training one up - though I could be wrong on that. When I was in Basic training (1971) our company used three trainees as drummers for long road marches. One bass drum two snares. These three already knew the drums but were not enlisted to become musicians. Later one guy (A Scot who was serving to gain citizenship) had pipes mailed to him and he became our company piper. Taking those long road marches to the ranges was certainly more entertaining with a piper - and he was a good one!

[@UncommonEyes]

Yes definitely wonderful sounding with drums 🤩🥁together their sounds go all though you and all around you.

[@stansmith4054]

Please do a video on U.S. military pipe and drum bands. I know the Marines and the Coast Guard have one not sure about the others. Since the bagpipe is a military instrument, it would be interesting and logical!

[@gjaxson01]

You should do a video on The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes. They were the only American Military Band invited to the Tattoo in Scotland.

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

Well, that changed, Army Field Band was just there last summer.

[@gjaxson01]

@@jenniferhiemstra5228 That is great to hear… Lots of talented people participated in Tattoo.

[@james_subosits]

Eric, on your note about how the new people can be more on top of their game than people who have made rank: that's definitely a problem across all levels of military bands, from the National Guard bands all the way up to the premier bands.

[@familyengineering5591]

Hey the new geico animal commercial has fake drumming in it

[@scottyg5403]

I was in the Navy Band for 8 years total these were Fleet bands out of Orlando Norfolk and New Orleans. I actually did very little marching almost my whole career with the Navy was on the drum set and that was fine with me. I also had broken service I got out after my first hitch and was out for three years and went back in and this time I was married I got VHA and BAQ within my first 6 months of being in the Navy. And on the first hitch I was single and actually living in an old bombed-out barracks and was told to move off base because on that particular base they trained a lot of nukes and they had preference. Being a drummer with not a heavy music theory background was the hardest thing for me because the test to make rank was tough. Anyway when I got out the first time and the second time I went back to being a professional musician and played gigs for many many years and many different environments and made good money. I think the Navy for that! the School of Music was also excellent! I got a chance to play with some great musicians! Thanks for the video!

[@qtthagod]

Your tha man devil dog! I joined the corps to be in the drum and bugle corps, but my asvab was too low! I really appreciate your content!!

[@keithdf2001]

What is the auditioning part require? Is it pre-sign up?

[@malcolmodell3170]

The Canadian Armed Forces up until 2017 used to promote all full-time musicians to E6 after basic training. Now they only go to E3 and will have to wait until all the E6s retire. I agree that a lot of senior members have a hard time accepting their musical skills aren't at the same levels as the new kids coming in, but the rank is (supposed to be) used more for institutional leadership and administration rather than shredding ability. The best sniper isn't necessarily the best sergeant major and I would argue the kind of musical leadership used by first chairs isn't the same as leading the institution. First chairs in my experience don't usually set or enforce policy, manage hr, succession plan, manage budgets, manage information assets, approve operations, etc. This is where you need good experienced leaders to maintain wise policies, instill discipline, take care of their people, and make well-considered decisions.

[@Eric-ro8bw]

Congrats on everthing you've done and to moving on. You've taken a very smart route with your carreer. Respect and good luck, bro. 👍

[@ParanormalCowboy]

thank you for your service

[@leebrossette1020]

Yes, fleet bands have to do the all of the annual training as required by the USMC

[@zmole2626]

number 4 had no doubt you will get a devorce

[@reimisugimoto3617]

Our school's choir teacher used to be in a military band. Sometimes she and some of the close friends she made will meet up and perform for us.

[@accountpc4311]

Do you play aswell? I'd love to see your beautiful hands jamming

[@casadelosperrosstudio200]

Yeah.... your experiences were not typical... but all branches have atypical units so you're not entirely off-track. I can tell you for a fact that, at least until 2004, Army Division bands trained regularly. Not as hard as the grunts for sure, but at least as much as any other CSS units. And yes, 82D Airborne musicians jump (and occasionally break bones...).

[@jeffharper2866]

"Combat Environment. Marine Corps Bands cannot perform live music in areas contaminated by nuclear, chemical or biological exchange or during periods of intense direct or indirect fire." -Marine Corps Order 5000.18, Ch. 1, ¶ 21.a Only sporadic fire? Get your dancing shoes on.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Concerning the money....I went in 1994 at 17 and got out in 2001. The pay system in the military feels unfair at first - when I was a radio engineer getting paid the same as the dude passing out basketballs at the gym, well....that sucked. When I got out and landed a job as a fiber optic engineer making more money than any 24 year old had a right to, it was then I understood! Also, lots of dudes get married in the military just for the extra bread and to get out of the barracks. We call them idiots. Especially when they did it in Korea!

[@mitchy_5567]

At this point, Eric’s just doing an rdavidr cosplay

[@stevennihipali3607]

My units secondary was to become an MP designated to the CG of the time.

[@mattchaney2862]

Army musicians come in at E4 rank

[@davidrn2473]

This might be a little dated and I may be slightly off on info that I remember. I was a USAF corpsman (1976-1982) In Feb 1977 I was stationed at the USAF Academy, (at that point it had been open about 25 years) . I was married, but my wife was a teacher at home (she had a great job) so, she stayed with me every summer. When she was home, I would present to the NCO in charge of the (rather small) NCO quarters and live in the barracks and collect both BAS and BAQ. Most of the guys living in the barracks were members of the band. As I understood it, they didn't request the academy as an assignment, but were qualified and received a congressional appointment. This was a permanent assignment. I remember some of the band guys were older (50's) and one once said to me " you new guys, I was in Denver (1954) when the academy started and marched down (75 miles) when the new academy opened." They marched (back then , seems they don't do as much today) with the new cadets to every meal in the summer that they arrived. I worked shifts and remember awakening sometimes to a guy practicing a trombone or sax.

[@aidenheinz4237]

I would love to see you play some of John S Pratt’s 14 modern snare drum solos from his booklet to see if you can like really easily. I can some of them if I practice them for a few months or so.

[@alsdrumhang]

... does the Space Force have musicians yet? I'm envisioning a lot of John Williams, Alexander Courage and Pink Floyd in their repertoires 🤣

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

N0, and there's a lot of doubt that they will, but my guess it'll be like the Coast Guard...only 1 band.

[@donalddodson7365]

You asked for others' experiences: March 1968 stupidly lost College 2-S Draft Deferment, so enlisted as Army 02J20 OJT at Ft. Irwin, CA. May - July Basic Combat Training, earned Expert Rifle on M-14. ALL U.S. Army Bandsmen (still gender segregated then) had to be capable riflemen, often augmenting Military Police. July 1968 - July 1969 433d Army Band, played oboe, Cor Anglais, clarinet and bass drum. September 1969-1970 4th ID HHC & Band, Republic of Vietnam. Here is where much of the "weird stuff" on your list came into play! Played oboe, bass drum, clarinet, M-16 rifle, M-60 machine gun, pick and shovel, Jeep & 2.5 Ton 6x6 truck. The enemy did not care about our MOS's: subject to RPG, mortar, sniper and ambush between gigs. Finished at Ft. Huachucca, AZ 36th Army Band. In those days, Army Bands made rank fast.

[@darz3829]

About the beard - It's as Lisa Simpson said, "Oh, I get it - you're rebelling in a conformist sort of way."

[@oldguydoesstuff120]

Where were you when I was graduating high school? I could have had a pretty good career with the military. Granted, I play neither drum nor bugle, so that corps would be out. I was a woodwind player, so would have been in a band unit instead. I suspect things are reasonably similar there.

[@Drums-ve8on]

In the usaf academy band (years ago), rank was seemingly handed out like candy at Halloween. I knew 19 year olds who outranked 10-15 year veterans working on the flight line in the “real” Air Force.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

What years were you in the D&B. I just retired from the USMB after thirty years (1991-2021)

[@EMCproductions]

2018-21. I'm sure we crossed paths many times lol. Congrats on the retirement!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@EMCproductions Thanks. Though I'm pretty sure we rarely crossed paths. You see, I served from 1991-2004 in the trombone section, and was a frequent participant in the Friday night parades. Then they moved me to the arranging staff in 2003 (I did both jobs for one year), and from that point on, I worked from my home office, going in only for musters, rehearsals of my arrangements, and other official events. So, I probably wasn't around much when you were in the D&B.

[@philipramsden4975]

Semper Fi brother. Just found your channel and subbed. Great content!

[@deathbypingpongball566]

what are you favorite cadences? and did you get to do Jodies?

[@elissahunt]

I just want to say that military pay isn't exactly the same across all personnel of the same rank. My husband (Army) and my brother (Navy) were the same rank, but my brother (EOD) took home twice as much pay as my hubby (Bandsman). The reason was, of course, all the hazard and other bonuses my brother got.

[@slook7094]

Will you ever be able to re-enlist?

[@markkarraker2409]

Hey Military Bands have received the Presidential and Valorous Unit awards, look at the battle of the bulge