Army School of Music

[Jellis42]

Hey everyone! New to this forum. Passed my first Army audition last June. I go to BCT at Fort Benning Jan 11 and will be reporting to Virginia Beach around March 23. Any information about the school or tips while I'm there would be appreciated! It used to last 6 months I believe but they changed it to 10 weeks. If you just want to share your experience while you were there that would help too!

[Charlie C Chowder]

I am not an old military musician nor was I Army. Navy ICman for my time in the '70s. But my advise holds true for anyone who is just leaving home for the first time. There is nobody there but you to tell you what to do. Many of us waste a lot of time going crazy our first year or two out of your home town. Don't waste you time partying all of the time. Sit a limit on your self if you must party. Control your self when you do. There will be a lot of peer pressure to go drinking every night. Don't date the girls at those parties. They are not the ones you would want to show Mom.

Use that time to get an education. The military has a lot of training just for the asking. Go to the local colleges for classes. Uncle Sam used to really help there. And you can meet a good lady there. One that you and your Mom would be proud of.

I saw a lot of kids waste their four years of time and get nothing out of it. Many were married to problems in the form of an easy woman who want to be taken care of. Many soon divorced.

I like my job in the service. I did not like the service. I did my time and used what I learned to make my way on the outside.
My brother liked the service, retired from and still works for the military as a civilian. My son in-law was a Marine. We all use what we learned in the military to make our living.

As to the Army, Learn the rules, and Live by those rules. A dishonorable discharge has ruined many of lives, because of a few minutes of stupidity.

Charlie C. Chowder '72 to '76

[jonesbrass]

Hey everyone! New to this forum. Passed my first Army audition last June. I go to BCT at Fort Benning Jan 11 and will be reporting to Virginia Beach around March 23. Any information about the school or tips while I'm there would be appreciated! It used to last 6 months I believe but they changed it to 10 weeks. If you just want to share your experience while you were there that would help too!

Basic training advice: be invisible. Don't attract any attention to yourself. Do exactly what the drill sergeants tell you to do, when they tell you to do it. Be prepared to get in shape. Remember: Pain is only weakness leaving your body.

School of Music advice: Practice. Practice. Practice. Keep up your PT. Take full advantage of the musical learning opportunities while you're there. Oh, yeah: practice.