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CDB wrote:I am on the verge of signing a contract to be in an army band this weekend. The gig is pretty much exactly what I wanted at this point in a job. One of the best things is that I'm relatively close to home(the job is in Atlanta). My current teacher told me to ask the recruiter if the job was "perminant something", basically meaning I can stay there as long as I want. I asked the recruiter, and of course I got a round about answer. He said that basically I stay in Atlanta for sure until the end of my contract, then I have to sign a form saying where I want to go, BUT he said I could keep putting Atlanta and stay there if I wanted. NOW, I've also heard that the army requires you to go overseas for at least some amount of time. Of course my recruiter never told me this. Now I'm not all opposed to going overseas, but with getting married and starting a family, I have to think going to Germany would make that difficult. I know I read a post earlier about something similar to this. Can anyone shed some light?

Recruiters. Nuff there.

First of all, unless it is in your contract it will not happen. If you want Atlanta for your first enlistment, then get it in the contract. Are you joining the Regular Army or Reserves or National Guard. They operate differently. If you are Regular Army and plan to make it a career, then you WILL go overseas for at least 1 year sometime in your career unless you are in Pershing's Own in Washington, DC or the US Military Academy Band at West Point.

Also remember that there are several bands which are in combat zones right now because they are attached to combat units.

I am not trying to talk you out of going Army, just remember that most Army Bands are Army first, which can include extended combat missions.

In Regular Army bands there are only 3 permanent station bands. Fife and Drum, Pershing's Own, and West Point. If you are not in those bands then you will move around throughout your career.

Of course, as always, I am just speaking for myself and not the US Army.

It has been quite a long time since I did this, but I believe I have information that is accurate to some degree. I was in the U.S. Army. I am not certain of any of the other branches.

When I signed up, I was able to secure a guaranteed assignment. I was guaranteed one year with the 5th U.S. Army Band(no longer such a band), located at Fort Sam Houston(San Antonio), Texas. I became what is known as "permanent party," when I arrived in Texas. Permanent party is about as permanent as any assignment in the Army is. I had been there about 10 months when orders were cut for me to go Germany. A few months later I was in Wurzburg with the 3rd Infantry Division Band.

From my experience, I would say the Army likes ot move people around quite a bit. I read something recently, however, which mentioned that they may cut back on this somewhat. Also, as far as taking your wife. When I was doing this, an "accompanied" tour to Germany was for 3 years, an "unaccompanied" tour was for 2 years. I really did enjoy my time in Germany very much. I chose the unaccompanied tour and took my wife over on my own nickel. This worked out quite well for me.

In a nutshell, they can guarantee an assignment, but probably for only a short period of time. If you are assigned to a special band, the rules are different. Sean, and others, have mentioned this before.

e-mail me privately

CDB wrote:The band i'm going to join is the Army Ground Forces Band at Fort McPhearson(sp?) in Atlanta. The job doesn't actually open until next year. From what I understand, this is sorta in between the premier bands, and the station bands. Anyway, what was explained to me is that this band sorta does the same job as a premier band, just on a smaller scale. I don't mind necessarly being a soldier first, I just don't want to be thrown around.

That is a good band. Your description, from what I understand, is correct. Email the guy who said to email him. Looks like he might already be in that band and can give you good inside info.

You are speaking of an Army MACOM-level band.

MACOM (Major Command) bands do have a higher standard than the "regular" Army bands. There are 3 of them--that one in Atlanta, one in Ft. Monroe, VA, and one in Heidelberg, Germany.

I have personally heard the band at Ft. Monroe. They are quite good--even had a nice trombone soloist the concert I heard. I was scheduled to be in this band, delayed enlistment and all, but that was before my Pershing's Own audition...

That being said, I have had personal experience enlisting for a MACOM band. PM me privately here, or email me if you want to know about my enlistment experience--there are some details I think you are not quite clear about.

sorry to all, but i'm swamped with work right now but i really want to give you some of my experiences... good and bad... i've spent time both here and in korea.. feel free to email me privately(as well as anyone else who might be interested) and i can answer some more of your questions... time to make the donuts...