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1. JOINING THE MI L I TARY
BANDS
JOE L IOT INE

2. Many musicians don’t think of military career when
it comes to playing and performing music.
However, this path can provide talented musicians
with a dependable source of income, great benefits,
and a variety of opportunities.

3. OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ARMED FORCES
EACH BRANCH OF THE US MI L I TARY — NAVY, ARMY,
MARINES, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD —
EMPLOYEE FUL L - T IME MUSIC ENSEMBLES. THERE
ARE TWO TYPES OF EACH GROUP:

4. 1) Premier bands. Ensemble members of
Premier bands have a guaranteed post, no worry
about being transferred. Hired musicians are
awarded the rank of E6. The 10 premier military
bands are housed in places like Washington DC or
service academies in West Point, Annapolis,
Colorado Springs, etc.

5. 2) Regional bands. Some members can stay
with the same group for many years, however
reassignment to other ensembles can occur
because of manning shortages or openings in other
bands. Your entering status is determined by your
educational background. Musicians who have
college credit often start at the rank of E3. Regional
groups are housed on bases across the country
and abroad.
The term band are umbrella organizations
consisting of several performing ensembles. For
example, the US Army Field Band is made up of
chorus, concert band, pop combo, big band.

6. Positions are available for:
INSTRUMENTAL ISTS
NON-PERFORMING STAF F
VOCAL ISTS
CONDUCTORS
RECORDING/SOUND ENGINEERS
COMPOSERS/ARRANGERS

7. PROS

8. Serving your country.
EVEN WI THOUT SEEING COMBAT , MI L I TARY
MUSICIANS PROVIDE A VALUABLE PATRIOT IC
SERVICE.

9. Job security.
THERE ARE VERY FEW MUSIC JOBS THAT CAN
PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SECURI TY THAT THE
MI L I TARY OF FERS. AF TER OBTAINING AN ENSEMBLE
POSI T ION, YOU CAN KEEP I T UNT I L RET IREMENT AT
A G E 5 5 . M U S I C I A N S C A N ’ T B E F I R E D O R L A I D O F F
UNLESS THEY MAKE A CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE AND
ARE DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED OR REASSIGNED.

10. Opportunities.
MANY GROUPS PERFORM AT MEGA HIGH PROF I LE
DIPLOMAT IC CEREMONIES, TOUR, AND RECORD.
ENSEMBLES TYPICAL LY PROGRAM A WIDE VARIETY
OF MUSICAL GENRES. MEMBERS ALSO HAVE THE
OPT ION OF PERFORMING IN CHAMBER GROUPS OR
BEING FEATURED AS A SOLOIST .

11. Health care.
COMPREHENSIVE HEAL TH CARE PROGRAMS ARE
MADE AVAI LABLE TO AL L MEMBERS.

12. Education/college repayment.
THE MI L I TARY IS ABLE TO PAY DOWN COL LEGE DEBT ,
HELP SUBSIDI ZE PRIVATE LESSONS, AND
CONTRIBUTE FOR THE COST OF ADDI T IONAL
SCHOOL ING. MI L I TARY PERSONNEL ARE ALSO
EL IGIBLE TO UT I L I ZE THE GI BI L L .

13. Other benefits.
MEMBERS MAY L IVE ON BASE AT NO COST , OR
RECEIVE AN AL LOWANCE FOR HOUSING. THEY ALSO
COL LECT A ST IPEND FOR FOOD. AL LOWANCES ARE
NON- TAXABLE. INSTRUMENTAL ISTS ARE SUPPL IED
WI TH PROFESSIONAL QUAL I TY INSTRUMENTS. THESE
CAN ONLY BE USED FOR OF F ICIAL MI L I TARY
ENGAGEMENTS (NOT OUTSIDE GIGS) .

14. Elite entering status.
WHEN YOU ARE HIRED INTO A PREMIER BAND,
MEMBERS ARE GRANTED THE RANK OF E6
IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS VERY ATYPICAL FOR NON -
MUSIC PERSONNEL , WHO HAVE TO WORK 5 - 1 0 +
YEARS TO REACH THAT STATUS.

15. Discipline.
JOINING THE MI L I TARY IS A WAY TO DEVELOP A MORE
DISCIPL INED L I FESTYLE.

16. Gigs on side.
MI L I TARY OBL IGAT IONS OF COURSE TAKE
PRECEDENCE, BUT MOS T I F NOT ALL MUSICIANS L INE
UP EXTRA WORK AND INCOME SOURCES.

17. Early retirement
YOU RECEIVE RET IREMENT BENEF I TS AF TER 2 0
YEARS OF MI L I TARY SERVICE. RET IREES RECEIVE A
PENSION THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO AROUND 5 0% OF
THEIR HIGHEST BASE PAY.

18. CONS

19. Basic training.
MUSICIANS HAVE TO COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING,
WHICH TAKES BETWEEN 6 - 1 3 WEEKS.

20. Restricted freedom.
JOINING THE MI L I TARY REQUIRES ONE TO FORFEI T
FREEDOMS THAT ARE AVAI LABLE TO CIVI L IANS. THE
UNI FORM CODE OF MI L I TARY JUST ICE IS MADE UP OF
A DI F FERENT SET OF LAWS THAT YOU HAVE TO
ADHERE TO AF TER SIGNING YOUR CONTRACT . YOU
MUST LOOK THE PARTOF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED
FORCES WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR
HAIR SHORT , FACE SHAVED, AND BOOTS SHINED.
Y O U R H O U S E M U S T B E K E P T I N O R D E R , A N D D O N ’ T
EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING DRUGS.

21. Rigidity.
MANY ASPECTS OF L I FE ARE DICTATED BY EXTERNAL
SOURCES, WHICH CAN BE FRUSTRAT ING FOR
CREAT IVE ART ISTS.

22. No way out.
AF TER SIGNING ON, MI L I TARY PERSONNEL HAVE TO
HONOR THEIR LEGAL LY BINDING CONTRACT FOR A
THE PERIOD OF T IME.

23. Physical requirements.
KEEPING YOURSEL F IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE IS A
JOB REQUIREMENT .

24. Keeping yourself in good physical shape is a job
requirement.
KEEPING YOURSEL F IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE IS A
JOB REQUIREMENT .

25. Bureaucracy.
THE MI L I TARY IS A COMPL ICATED INST I TUT ION WI TH
LOTS PROTOCOL AND RED TAPE.

26. Deployments.
SOME MUSICIANS MUST BE DEPLOYED TO WAR
ZONES, THOUGH FOR SHORTER PERIODS THAN
OTHER PARTS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

27. Discrimination.
WOMAN REPORT HIGH RATES OF HARASSMENT .

28. Collateral responsibilities.
EVERYONE HAS RESPONSIBI L I T IES OUTSIDE OF
THEIR PRIMARY MUSICAL DUT IES. EXAMPLES MAY
INCLUDE WEB DESIGN, BOOKING GIGS, MAKING
POSTERS, AND ACCOUNT ING.

29. Lack of creative outlets.
THE MI L I TARY IS ABOUT FOL LOWING ORDERS AND
CONFORMI TY, NOT INNOVAT ION. CONTRACTS
MENT ION NOTHING ABOUT PERSONAL FUL F I L LMENT ,
JUST COMPLET ING ASSIGNED RESPONSIBI L I T IES.
ENSEMBLES OF TEN USE THE SAME MATERIAL YEAR
AF TER YEAR, AND THERE IS L I T T LE TOLERANCE FOR
CREAT IVE INDIVIDUALS . POSSIBLE REMEDIES
INCLUDE CHAMBER ENSEMBLE ASSIGNMENTS AND
PERSONAL PURSUI TS DURING OF F DUTY HOURS.