Public Opinion on military bands

[JHardisk]

I was directed to this article in the Washington Post last night. All political opinions aside, what's the general Tubenet concensus? (Clearly, I would expect some bias here, being musicians).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 04711.html

I can't do more than shake my head...

All the while, my fellow tubist in the band is on a Navy ship sailing around South America for 4 months bringing "good cheer" and "diplomacy" to impoverished people. They're along with doctors, dentists, seabees, and marine combat forces to keep order. Clearly though, they are making no impact

[BVD Press]

After reading it last night, I had one general reaction:

There wasn't a single mention in the article about what the bands do. Just the numbers...

I think a rebuttal article would be in order about what John, my wife and many other forum members do on a daily, weekly, monthly, etc. basis.

[jonesbrass]

John, I'm a bit confused by this article. I feel that it is very poorly written, as the purpose isn't exactly clear. Is the writer advocating closing some or all military bands to augment the strength of the Foreign Service Officer pool?

Either way, the DoD is in for a tough time for the foreseeable future. Secretary Gates wants the military services to reduce their "tail" and increase their "tooth." Yes, there will be cuts (just look at what happened to JFCOM), and it will be interesting to see where they occur. There is redundancy to go after before any cut to the bands is proposed or enacted.

[TubaRay]

I will probably get banned for this... but of all the ridiculous spending these idiots (and that is the nicest word I can apply to them) are engaging in and the first thing they are looking to cut is millitary bands? @#$%^& those @#$-hats.

If you get banned, take me with you. I wouldn't have worded things quite so nicely as you did.

[JTJ]

Well, I do not see any reason to cut service bands or transfer payments to private citizens.

[dentaltuba]

Maybe we should cut everything to fund services for people here illegally.As a tax payer and veteran I support our military and all the sacrificies they have made to give us the right and privilege to say STUPID things.

[joh_tuba]

I did not read the article however I have played for Robert Gates and had him come up, shake my hand, and give me a coin. It's my understanding that he played sax at interlochen during his youth. Genuinely nice thoughtful man. Totally impressed.

I've also played for the head of the war college(where they train officers) at Leavenworth, shook his hand and received a coin. Equally impressed with his thoughtful nature and interest in doing what's right.

My experience suggests that these people really appreciate the band and we are in excellent hands.

[imperialbari]

Questions that may be asked:

Are the US military musicians a highly visible and audible part of US state acts? (Seen from the distance my answer would be: Yes).

Do local audiences attend, when the DC bands tour the US?

Is there a surplus or a shortage of military musicians compared to the needs in respect of military funerals?

Aren’t just about all military musicians outside of the DC and academy bands assigned soldiering functions?

Klaus

[TubaRay]

I do expect that this thread is treading into the forbidden political zone and will shortly be moved or deleted.

You may be correct, however I question your need to bring this up. This is yet another topic/subject which is of interest to most tuba players. It is yet another example of how most things are influenced by politics. We don't live in a vacuum. Furthermore, I don't see where there has been any attempt to swing this topic towards a discussion of liberal or conservative politics.

I'd vote to let this topic continue. We don't seem to be arguing, here. We are discussing it, however.

[circusboy]

I do expect that this thread is treading into the forbidden political zone and will shortly be moved or deleted.

Furthermore, I don't see where there has been any attempt to swing this topic towards a discussion of liberal or conservative politics.

Can't say as I agree with you there, TubaRay. I think the line's been crossed, and the post should be removed.

Until then, however, I'll add my two cents: I really love the military bands and have been honored to have seen them on several occasions. I believe that their funding should remain intact.

That said, I've long heard that the budget for military bands well exceeds the budget for the entire National Endowment for the Arts. This is wrong. Though I'm sure bloke will disagree with me, the answer is not to cut the band budget, but to increase the NEA budget--substantially.

[1895King]

Klaus, thanks for your question about nonmusical duties of bandspeople outside Washington, D.C. Earlier this month we in Great Falls, Montana, had the privilege of hearing the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. One of the things they stressed was the fact that all of their members are crosstrained in some other MOS (Military Occupational Skill). Several of the members were preparing to deploy to Iraq and/or Afghanistan while others are preparing to return to their home base near San Diego.

[bort]

To echo what other people have said, there are countless other places to save money and stop wasting money on stupid stuff. Remember, too... this is the DoD. Any money they are saving on from the bands is NOT going to go cross-department to anything like NEA. It will go to other military needs.

I'm thinking of it like this, too -- say they do make some cuts. How much will they actually save, and how will that money better protect US civilians, troops, and our country? Just doesn't seem significant enough (to me) to make any real impact. Then again, I'm not the person making the actual decision and don't have all of the information.

Maybe this is the "taking a scalpel to the budget" we heard so much about...?

[MartyNeilan]

I thought it interesting that the Chaplain Corps was also mentioned. Ask anybody who has seen real combat for any length of time if they think the military needs less chaplains.

[Dave Y]

I see trillions of dollars of other absurd wasteful spending (including transfer payments to private citizens) before the federal government works its way down the list to these bands.

Man, I wish THAT were true! The truth is, cuts to military music programs are being made ALL of the time, and will continue (whether large or small) into the foreseeable future.

FWIW, the federal government made one of it's best allocation of funds in recent years, when it sent a Sellmansberger Symphony mouthpiece to Navy Band Great Lakes!

[knarfman]

That said, I've long heard that the budget for military bands well exceeds the budget for the entire National Endowment for the Arts. This is wrong. Though I'm sure bloke will disagree with me, the answer is not to cut the band budget, but to increase the NEA budget--substantially.

Maybe. But IMHO, military band funding is effectively arts funding (whether the NEA has anything to do with it or not), and what the military bands do is a lot more art than a lot of what's funded by the NEA (NB: that's an artistic opinion, not a political one).

--Frank

[David Richoux]

It would be sad to see the military band replaced with the 'military DJ' playing band recordings. Already happening at some smaller military events...

Ken F.

There haven't been many real buglers for years! The trumpet player (a WW2 Navy vet.) in my jazz band does volunteer work playing taps at funerals and other ceremonies around the Bay Area (on a real horn) but he has talked to active duty and VFW "buglers" who have no idea how to play the calls - they just push a button... sad!
http://www.ceremonialbugle.com/

but this group is still working to change the situation: http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/

[Brucom]

I see trillions of dollars of other absurd wasteful spending (including transfer payments to private citizens) before the federal government works its way down the list to these bands.

When they make those transfer payments, do they add $5.00 to the check?

[tubaguy9]

Military bands are in my opinion, my favorite part of the "armed forces". However, what I don't like about them is that they could be forced to use a gun by Uncle Sam...My opinion on Armed Forces in general, is that their job is not as it used to be. It used to be more about protecting us, but has changed more to protecting our way of life. However, I am sure we could have a better way of life, but do not know exactly what it is.
This is my simplest, shortest, least political view of the bands and their job...PM me if you would like to discuss it more, as I would prefer to keep it more private and not lock this thread...

[GC]

The article's comment about the "Vast number of military bands" is just half-vast thinking on the part of an ignoramus. He totally ignores the fact that the number of bands has been drastically reduced over the last 15 years and inflates statistics. Salon unfortunately publishes articles by propagandists and ignorant axe-grinders, and this is just one more reason for me to have little respect for them.

[TubaBobH]

Concerning the statement:
...former secretary of state "Condi Rice used to say, 'We have more people in military bands than they have in the Foreign Service.' She was not far wrong."

I would venture to say:
And this would be a bad thing? It is my opinion that the average military band member is doing far less damage to our country than the average foreign service (State Department) member.