U.S. Navy Fleet Bands have many tuba positions open

[bcollins]

I posted this a little over a year ago and we've had tuba players audition and join because of this post, so here it is again. The U.S. Navy is still in need of tubists. There are 11 fleet bands with several positions open. If you are not a contender for a major orchestral position or for one of the premier military bands, or even if you are and you need a playing job then consider the navy fleet bands. The playing level is pretty high though, so you still need to be a serious player to get in. You can get beneifits including college loans paid off, possibility of a bonus, college credits paid for while you are enlisted, money for future college, not to mention solid pay and fantasticly low priced health and dental care for you and your family (very low cost). The best part is unlike the army and marines you are a musician only. Don't get me wrong, you are still in the navy but you aren't going to be doing anything besides music and related collateral duties for the band. The navy also provides excellent tubas for you. If there are any serious interests, please email me at bcollins10nb@yahoo.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank for further information or of course you can find info online as well.

Billy Collins
Navy Band Northwest

personal instruments: Conn 56J CC / Meinl Weston 182 F
navy instruments used: Meinl Weston 2145 CC / PT6p CC / Miraphone 186 BBb / Wilson 3200 Eb / Conn 20k Sousa

[wooliteeuph]

As a euphonium player in the fleet, I would like to add a few words to this. Not only is everything said true, but for those that like international culture, this is the career to have. For instance, today I arrived to my new duty station in Naples, Italy. I will be living here and touring all over Europe and Africa for the next 2 or so years. Lets be realistic. How many people can say that they have lived a life like this while receiving good pay and a chance to advance both musically, professionally, and intellectually? I have been a sailor just under 7 years and I still have a lot more of this fantastic life to live and already I can say that I have done things and been places that others could only dream of.

I will speak on behalf of the tuba players when I say that personally, I believe the strongest section in the program would have to be these "beasts of the low end." Seriously, these guys are good and they will always have my strongest endorsement. The only problem is that we need more so get those horns out, schedule an audition today, and let your dreams begin.



.....I should get into advertisement (while performing in the navy, of course)

[jtuba]

You guys hiring fat/old Army tuba players Seriously, is the Navy hiring prior service? We only have limited prior service spots these days.

[bcollins]

It is possible to be prior service and enlist in the navy fleet bands. I know navy musicians who have served in other branches, and some who had prior service with 2 other branches.

[EQueg]

I'll tag on to what wooliteeuph said as someone who has spent the last three years in Japan. It's an awesome experience to be able to tour foreign countries. The audiences are out of this world and the ability to visit so many other countries and explore their culture is fantastic. In a 20 year tour if you really want it, it's almost a certainty that you can get to either Japan or Italy (the two overseas bands) and at least two other bands (Norfolk and Hawaii) consistently tour in foreign countries, so if travel is your thing then Navy bands are a great way to do it and get paid. This advertisement has been sponsored by the letter T...

@jtuba...yes they do hire prior service, we just brought in two national guard guys and there are I know of at least 3 prior service army guys that I've worked with. One was out for perhaps 2-3 years before he came back and he did not have to do anything with boot camp other than go there to collect uniforms.

@wooliteeuph...Hey man! It's Eric. Glad to hear that you're in Naples, I'm sure you'll love it out there!