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Here's what we get as a Army National Guard Band-

1. No, they're suppose to issue them to you. I use my own most of the time because we're in the process of getting new instruments for the band. For example, the 77th Army Band (Ft Sill, OK) and the 62nd Army Band (Ft Bliss, TX) have Miraphone 191 5v BBb to use.
2. Depends, active duty you get allowances for food, housing, and other things like combat pay in Iraq. NG and Reserve get it during Annual Training (AT, aka the two weeks out of the summer).
3. Depends on the unit. Active duty bands get instruments replaced on a cycle. Our band gets it when ours falls apart.
4. The instrument belongs to the unit, not the individual. So even if you transfer to another band, you'll get another tuba from your new band.

I hope this helps. BTW, I'm trying to get my band to get me a Miraphone 1291CC.

The best thing is contact the band you're looking to get into and ask them directly.

Steve Wilkinson
44th Army Band

Well, the unit is suppose to provide music, mouthpieces, supplies and the horn.

The big benefit offered today is bonuses (I've seen up to $30,000) and 100% tuition plus the GI Bill and school loan repayments (up to $100,000 in some cases)

ai698 wrote:Well, the unit is suppose to provide music, mouthpieces, supplies and the horn.

The big benefit offered today is bonuses (I've seen up to $30,000) and 100% tuition plus the GI Bill and school loan repayments (up to $100,000 in some cases)

If you can, you might want to hang on for a few months before signing up. There's talk afoot in the Pentagon about significantly raising enlistment bonuses to keep an "all volunteer" Army.

ai698 wrote:The big benefit offered today is bonuses (I've seen up to $30,000)

Maybe for pilots, doctors, and infantry. You ain't gonna see a euphonium bandsman MOS get $30,000. I got $6,000 when I signed on and that was because I had a college diploma. They called it a "High Grad Bonus". I get nothing for reenlistments but a 10% off coupon to the PX and a 3 day pass.

Sorry, I was speaking of Army overall about bonuses. Some don't want to go Army Band.

I just received an email from my 1SG and you can get lump sum bonus of $15,000 for a 6 year enlistment with less that 16 year in service for joining the New Mexico National Guard. I'm sure other state's National Guards are offering similiar bonuses. Not bad $$ for tooting a horn 38 days a year (for the next six years of your life).

The bad is that 9 weeks of basic training and that chance of being deployed. We had one tuba player get all the way through basic only to get a medical retirement because of his DI wanting to have his troops do 2000 push ups a day. He developed severe tendonitis in his wrist and has to be separated from the guard after only being in 5 months. On deployment, most of our unit is ready and want to go!