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US Army Loan Repayment program.


Will pay up to $65,000 of loans for 3 years.

Yes, it does.

Every enlisted job in the Army is offered this, including bandsmen. (and women...)

Couldn't do the Armed Forces route, not a private school, not a pro musician: 10 years, first five with some menial jobs (pizza driver, baker).

Elephant has it summed up excellently.

Token correction: a couple years ago they changed the MOS system for the band field. Everone in the band field is now a 42R(Forty-Two Romeo). My understanding is that they are considering changing it again but I'm not sure of the details(I think the new MOS will identify what *group* you play in rather than your instrument). The whole idea being a more flexible unit encouraging musicians to mulitask. The situation that Elephant described with one band capable of forming 20 different groups, 7 independently is something that is being pushed for the entire band system. They now call it modular band.

We had a very nice guy from the pentagon speak with my band a bit over a year ago about what was coming down the pike. Supposedly the band field is already far behind schedule. His point was that *if* we consider our primary mission to be playing in concert band and doing change of command ceremonies the bands will eventually be umm... disbanded. He also said that jazz bands are now considered a 'legacy' group. It is our job to make ourselves usefull and desirable to the average troop. For example, our band now has two rock bands within it. We've also taken to doing a lot of country tunes(with singers) during our band concerts. Patriotic stuff with narration has also become a crowd favorite. Being able to break apart and have a quintet do an officers convention while the rock band entertains a crowd at a festival is a BIG deal now.

Elephant's comments regarding the lifestyle of various types of bands is very dead on. I'm in a guard unit, when I joined guard folks didn't go to the school of music(that changed shortly after). I did on the job training(OJT) with the Ft. Knox band. Very much so a BCT band. Many people there were visibly unhappy with their situation. I was thankful that I was only there for 28 days.

That said, much of how you enjoy your army experience will be based on 1)Your attitude towards the situation and 2)What sort of commander you have. I'm very fortunate to be in a wonderful guard unit with an excellent commander and great people. I couldn't be happier and fully intend to do 20 years with this group. It truly feels like a family. I've spoken to folks in other guard units who enjoy it but don't have quite the positive experience I have here. All that to say, go in with your eyes open and good luck!

the elephant wrote:fifteen players divided up into five jazz trios (we had 5 people who played bass well)

I'm more surprised you could find 5 people who played piano "well enough."

Todd S. "who still plays jazz piano at the local kollij 'cause they can't get nobody else" Malicoate

the elephant wrote:I got better.

Hey Todd,

Can you believe it was 20 years ago we were playing together at Disney?

WOW, time flies.

MR

Seriously, Mike. Hard to believe it was that long ago.

Good to see you're doing so well...I was so excited for you when you landed the BSO gig, and I've enjoyed your exploits lately...including the Prairie Home Companion gig...sounded like fun!

Oh, and WINNIE THE POOH!

All my best,

Todd

Hey I know this is an older topic but I thought I'd chime in. I am in the Navy Pacific Fleet Band, and one of the many reasons I joined was the crazy student loans I had, I had loans for all of undergrad and postgrad which was in England so I was swimming in debt. The Navy has $65,000 student loan repayment, and when you sign up for active duty you can get your loan payments deferred, because it will after your first year for uncle Sam to start paying them off. I did a lot of research before I signed the dotted line which payed off and got me in the right service. For me I wanted to do as little "military" stuff as possible, and the Navy comes in second to the Air Force (which by the way has not been hiring for several years). The only really "military" thing I do is wear a uniform, and salute officers. We are not required to qualify on weapons at all, you can if you want an extra ribbon or two, I did, plus shooting stuff is cool! We don't do watch or anything like the rest of the Navy does, well, except at the school but after that never again. We don't go on ships much at all, unless you are in Japan, Italy, of Norfolk and thats maybe every few years. Half of our band here in Hawaii is on a hospital ship in southeast Asia now, and a lot of the guys say they are kinda bored. Oh and bootcamp is a breeze and actually kind of fun. Plus personally I think the Navy has the coolest locations compared to all the services. I was "ordered" to live in Hawaii by uncle sam, I can't complain. Anyways, if you have any Navy questions PM me and I'll try my best to answer them! Ok off to Waikiki to hit the beach!

I know this topic (military bands as viable and musical career prospects) surfaces from time to time and that there are as many valid opinions as there are individual experiences. I seem to remember hearing that the Army is the countries largest employer of tuba and euphonium players. I will tell you also, that there are many fine players with impeccable performance and educational credentials in our service bands.

I have been in the Army for 22 years and love it. I served in "division or line bands", "post bands", stood on the Berlin Wall in 1989 (and still have my picture at Checkpoint Charlie - yes, a tuba player and not an infantryman or military policeman), managed the Army's band recruiting program in the southeast US from 1994 through 1997, deployed several times (and likely will again soon) to support our Soldiers at war, and ran our senior enlisted training at the Navy (and officially now the "Army") School of Music. I enjoy the way that I support our country and would ask that anyone considering such an option contact one of us that currently serves. There are no doubt hundreds of us on TubeNet (including Sean) who would love to share our experience and give a bird's eye view of where we are today, as well as where we are going.

Best to you all - play well (very well), but mostly play because you enjoy it!