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I have just joined the army and will be in the 82nd Airborne band and was wondering if anyone here was in or around that band.

You will be going to the biggest "field" band in the United States Army. The band also is one of the best, but be prepared to work. I don't know if it is required anymore, but most of the band was jump qualified when I was active duty and they also place alot of creedence in the physical fitness aspect of their jobs. The band is chock full of tradition and you will be part of one of the most cohesive units in the military. Congratulations. And keep your jump boots spit shined. You wear them with every uniform. When do you got to the School of Music?

Chuck

A good friend of mine retired out of the 82nd Band as First Sergeant in July 2005.

If you're interested, drop me a PM and I'll get you his email address and phone.

All the way!

I can't imagine being in the 82nd and not putting your knees in the breeze. Doesn't the band jump for training purposes anyway?

greggu wrote:All the way!

I can't imagine being in the 82nd and not putting your knees in the breeze. Doesn't the band jump for training purposes anyway?

I believe that the band does jump. For those few who might be legs, they are STRONGLY encouraged to go to Benning for jump school.

How far?

greggu wrote:All the way!

The 82d Band is no longer on jump status, nor can they do any permissive "space available" jumps. Many a paratrooper were disappointed when that day came but now, it will be easier to staff that band without the airborne requirement. Currently, the band is deployed to Afghanistan and is performing lots of musical missions, which is great news for the band field in general. Good luck with BCT, AIT, and the assignment and we'll look forward to seeing you around.

Chuck Jackson wrote:And keep your jump boots spit shined.

No more polishing with the new boots. Hooah!!!

This was the band I was initially set to go to when I joined back in 95. Upon my arrival to the Armed Forces S of M I was persuaded otherwise by the tuba teacher at the time(Don Wagner) whom had spent some time there as well as our own Lee Stofer who was working in the repair shop there at the time. Lee was extremely helpful to me during my entire stay. It was always fun to venture up to the "3rd deck" and see what new toys he had in the shop. There were a few different reasons for there opinions and I just had second thoughts about jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and my knees paying for it later in life. I also was fortunate enough to get reassigned to the USARJ Band(Japan).
However, with the removal of the "jump status" it would not have been bad and would potentially atract some of the finer musicians in the field. I would not trade my time in Japan for anything however.
You will certainly make some life long friends in the band field. I did and stay in touch with most of them after leaving in 99. Make the most of your time in. Find a good professional close by you can continue to take lessons with. Sometimes you can get the band to pay for it. Play in every ensemble you can for the experience. Do your absolute best not make enemies, especially those that out rank you! You will see them everyday.

Congratulations on your success and have a blast.

Pete

WoodSheddin wrote:

Chuck Jackson wrote:And keep your jump boots spit shined.

No more polishing with the new boots. Hooah!!!

Don't tell me, they have those crazy, shiny Coroframs in Jump Boots? The horror, the horror (doing my best Kurtz imitation....)

Chuck

Pete Link wrote:This was the band I was initially set to go to when I joined back in 95. Upon my arrival to the Armed Forces S of M I was persuaded otherwise by the tuba teacher at the time(Don Wagner) whom had spent some time there as well as our own Lee Stofer who was working in the repair shop there at the time. Lee was extremely helpful to me during my entire stay. It was always fun to venture up to the "3rd deck" and see what new toys he had in the shop. There were a few different reasons for there opinions and I just had second thoughts about jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and my knees paying for it later in life. I also was fortunate enough to get reassigned to the USARJ Band(Japan).
However, with the removal of the "jump status" it would not have been bad and would potentially atract some of the finer musicians in the field. I would not trade my time in Japan for anything however.
You will certainly make some life long friends in the band field. I did and stay in touch with most of them after leaving in 99. Make the most of your time in. Find a good professional close by you can continue to take lessons with. Sometimes you can get the band to pay for it. Play in every ensemble you can for the experience. Do your absolute best not make enemies, especially those that out rank you! You will see them everyday.

Congratulations on your success and have a blast.

Pete

I served with Don in Berlin. Great tubist, but an even better runner.

Chuck Jackson wrote:

WoodSheddin wrote:

Chuck Jackson wrote:And keep your jump boots spit shined.

No more polishing with the new boots. Hooah!!!

Don't tell me, they have those crazy, shiny Coroframs in Jump Boots? The horror, the horror (doing my best Kurtz imitation....)

Chuck

True, the Army has gone to the suede boot but the 82d and 101st continue to wear the black leather jump boot with their Class A and B uniforms. It's more of an exception for tradition than anything else.

The Air Force is authorized to wear the patent leather (corfram) jump boots for ceremonial use by Honor Guards and color guards, but the Army has never authorized their wear.

For the Army bands that don't wear boots with their dress uniforms, Corfam shoes are fairly standard, although you probably won't be issued them.

LoyalTubist wrote:For the Army bands that don't wear boots with their dress uniforms, Corfam shoes are fairly standard, although you probably won't be issued them.

When I ran the supply room for the 298th in Berlin, I would issue a pair of Corfams to every newly-arrived musician as a matter of course.

Maybe things have changed.

bloke wrote:Related to fake leather shoes, I've seen Corfam and Corfram, but not Corofram...

...??

Operator spelling error. I wore the dress ones for my 11 years and remember how my feet used to bake in them during outdoor ceremonies and marching gigs. Sure looked pretty though..........

Chuck

tubaphore wrote:

Eupher6 wrote:

LoyalTubist wrote:For the Army bands that don't wear boots with their dress uniforms, Corfam shoes are fairly standard, although you probably won't be issued them.

When I ran the supply room for the 298th in Berlin, I would issue a pair of Corfams to every newly-arrived musician as a matter of course.

Maybe things have changed.

Nope, that's what we still wear, except they're referred to as "low quarters" by us and "Shoes, Oxford" by our supply guy.

Hmmm. Maybe this is the fundamental difference. AFAIK, active duty bands were ISSUED corfam shoes by the in-house supply guys. These are authorized by MTOE. NG or Reserve bands could be different.

Eupher6 wrote:

tubaphore wrote:

Eupher6 wrote: When I ran the supply room for the 298th in Berlin, I would issue a pair of Corfams to every newly-arrived musician as a matter of course.

Maybe things have changed.

Nope, that's what we still wear, except they're referred to as "low quarters" by us and "Shoes, Oxford" by our supply guy.

Hmmm. Maybe this is the fundamental difference. AFAIK, active duty bands were ISSUED corfam shoes by the in-house supply guys. These are authorized by MTOE. NG or Reserve bands could be different.

Correct. I spent 3 months in the Guard Band in Phoenix after I got out and was issued the standard shoes. Do you remember the original Bates with the leather soles? They were miserable. When I checked into Fort MacPherson in 1989, Dave Keller the Supply NCOIC issued me the Bates Lites. My feet still baked, but they were alot easier to get around in.

Chuck

Chuck Jackson wrote:

Eupher6 wrote:

tubaphore wrote: Nope, that's what we still wear, except they're referred to as "low quarters" by us and "Shoes, Oxford" by our supply guy.

Hmmm. Maybe this is the fundamental difference. AFAIK, active duty bands were ISSUED corfam shoes by the in-house supply guys. These are authorized by MTOE. NG or Reserve bands could be different.

Correct. I spent 3 months in the Guard Band in Phoenix after I got out and was issued the standard shoes. Do you remember the original Bates with the leather soles? They were miserable. When I checked into Fort MacPherson in 1989, Dave Keller the Supply NCOIC issued me the Bates Lites. My feet still baked, but they were alot easier to get around in.

Chuck

Wow, a trip down memory lane. I worked with Dave Keller in Berlin, as well - he introduced me to the supply game. I think Dave is currently the SGM of the Field Band - should be due for retirement soon.

I remember the Bates shoes, but not those with leather soles. Had good old-fashioned rubber.

Ninety-nine point change percent of our ceremonies were performed in spitshined boots, even when we wore the so-called "Spandau" greens. Goofy-looking monkey suit, actually.

I can remember only a handful of times in a 20-year career I EVER played a ceremony in shoes. A few at Ft. Devens most likely, and in khakis. Seems foreign, odd.

tubaphore wrote:

Eupher6 wrote:

tubaphore wrote: Nope, that's what we still wear, except they're referred to as "low quarters" by us and "Shoes, Oxford" by our supply guy.

Hmmm. Maybe this is the fundamental difference. AFAIK, active duty bands were ISSUED corfam shoes by the in-house supply guys. These are authorized by MTOE. NG or Reserve bands could be different.

"Shoes, Oxford" are on our NG band MTOE. AFAIK MTOE for the active Army, ARNG and AR are the same (how's that for some acronyms?). but, maybe I'm wrong.

I think we're beating this shoe thing into the ground (replacement soles anyone? ), but we never procured Bb Army shoes and issued them. We always ordered a generic NSN and the PX filled the order with Bates Corfams.

Luck of the Irish, I guess. Too bad I'm a mutt!

Eupher6 wrote:

LoyalTubist wrote:For the Army bands that don't wear boots with their dress uniforms, Corfam shoes are fairly standard, although you probably won't be issued them.

When I ran the supply room for the 298th in Berlin, I would issue a pair of Corfams to every newly-arrived musician as a matter of course.

Maybe things have changed.

I was in the 298th, too. I did say probably. People I knew in other bands had to buy them if they wanted them.