The Working Musician: Military Jobs

With the possible exception of saxophonists and euphoniumists, few musicians dream of a military career. Yet this path can provide a dependable income, solid benefits, and varied opportunities. “This is a good four year job for just about anyone. It can be a GREAT 20+ year job for many,” explains Michael Mench, Commander of the US Air Force Band of Flight. A special thanks to Commander Mench, who provided some of the information presented in this article.

OPPORTUNITIES

Each branch of the United States military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard—employs several full-time music ensembles.  There are two types of groups:

1)      Premier bands. Ensemble members have a guaranteed post, without the worry about being transferred elsewhere. Hired musicians are immediately awarded the rank of E6 (rankings range from E1 to E9—higher is better). The 10 premier military bands are housed in Washington DC or attached to the service’s Academy: Annapolis, West Point, Colorado Springs, etc.

2)      Regional bands. While some members stay with the same group for years, reassignment to other ensembles occurs due to manning shortages or openings in overseas bands. Entering status is determined by educational background, as is the case with most everyone else in the enlisted force. Musicians with college credit often begin at the rank of E3. Regional groups are housed on bases across the country and abroad.

The term band here does not mean wind band or marching band. In fact, most of these groups are umbrella organizations consisting of several performing ensembles. For example, the US Army Field Band consists of a concert band, chorus, big band, and pop combo. The US Air Force Band oversees six entities, including a string orchestra, chorus (cleverly entitled Singing Sergeants), brass band, and big band. Large ensemble members are often assigned to chamber groups as well, spanning the gamut of styles and instrumentations: Dixieland, baroque, Celtic, rock, pop, country/western, brass/woodwind quintets, etc.

Positions are available for:

• Instrumentalists (winds, strings, percussion, rhythm section)
• Vocalists
• Conductors
• Composers/arrangers
• Recording/sound engineers
• Non-performing staff

PROS

1. Serving your country. Even if you’re not in combat (and few musicians are), military musicians provide a valuable and patriotic service.
2. Job security. There are few music jobs that provide the level of security of the military. After obtaining a premier ensemble position, you can keep it until retirement (all ranks force retirement by age 55). Musicians can’t be fired or laid off…unless they monumentally screw up and are dishonorably discharged or reassigned.
3. Opportunities. Many groups tour, record, and perform at high profile diplomatic ceremonies. Ensembles typically program a variety of musical genres. Members have the option of performing in chamber settings or being featured as a soloist.
4. Health care. Comprehensive health care plans are available to members. The current level of coverage is generally better than years past.
5. Education/college repayment. The military may pay down college debt, subsidize private lessons, and/or contribute to additional schooling. Military personnel are eligible to take advantage of the GI Bill. 
6. Other benefits. Members may live on base for free, or receive an allowance for housing. They also collect a food stipend. Allowances are non-taxable. Instrumentalists are supplied with professional quality instruments.  These can only be used for official military engagements (not outside gigs).
7. Elite entering status. When hired into a premier band, members are immediately granted the rank of E6. This is highly atypical for non-music personnel, who often work 5-10+ years to reach that status.
8. Discipline. Joining the military is a great way to develop a more disciplined lifestyle (…by the way, you have no choice).
9. Gigs on side. Obviously, military obligations take precedence, but most musicians line up extra work and income sources.
10. Early retirement. You are eligible for retirement with 20 years of military service. If enlisting at 22, retirement is possible at the ripe age of 42. Retirees receive a pension equivalent to around 50% of their highest base pay.

CONS

Professional recruiters are quick to describe all the great reasons for joining the military, but are probably less forthcoming about the downsides.

1. Basic training. Musicians are required to complete basic training (except for premier Marine and Coast Guard Bands), which takes 6-13 weeks, depending on the branch. This is probably not the most fun way to start a job.
2. Restricted freedom. Joining the military means forfeiting certain freedoms that are available to civilians. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is a different set of laws that must be adhered to after signing the contract, no exceptions. You must look the part—keep your hair short, face shaved, and boots shined. Your house must be kept in order, and don’t even think about doing drugs. Stiff punishments are inflicted on members who outwardly disagree with superiors.
3. Rigidity. Many aspects of life are dictated by external sources, which can be frustrating for creative artists.
4. No way out. After signing on, military personnel have a legally binding contract for a certain period of time (typically 4-5 years of active duty) that must be served in full. This is not like other jobs, where you can quit at any point if you decide to switch directions.
5. Physical requirements. Keeping yourself in top-notch physical shape is a job requirement. However, isn’t staying fit a positive and healthy practice?
6. Bureaucracy. The military is a big, complicated institution with lots of thorny protocol and red tape. Things are not always run in the most efficient manner.
7. Deployments. Some musicians are deployed to war torn regions, though for shorter periods than non-musician troops. For example, each Air Force band is required to send a small ensemble in support of Iraq and Afghanistan efforts every 15 months for sixty days.
8. Discrimination. At this point, homosexuals are not allowed to openly serve in the military under “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Woman report high rates of harassment, though the military is working pro-actively to improve the situation. This issue is probably less prominent in music circles.
9. Collateral responsibilities. Just about everyone has responsibilities beyond their primary musical duties, though they’re usually band-related. Examples include booking gigs, web design, making posters, and accounting. Of course, these experiences offer valuable lessons to savvy musicians in terms of learning music business realities.
10. Lack of creative outlets. The military is about conformity and following orders, not innovation or challenging status quo. Contracts mention nothing about personal fulfillment, just completing assigned responsibilities. Ensembles often recycle the same literature year after year, and there is little tolerance for creative individuals who want to “shake things up” or steal the spotlight. Possible remedies include chamber ensemble assignments and personal pursuits during off duty hours.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is based on rank and time served. Members get a step raise every 1-2 years, in additional to the annual inflation raises given each January. Below are sample 2010 entry level salaries for players in regional and premier groups.

* Varies depending on location

** This is to offset the cost of meals, but does not cover food expenses when on tour or away from duty station on orders. However, per diems are typically allocated during these situations. 

GETTING THE WORK

Though auditions are not as competitive as major symphony orchestras, desirable positions may have as many as 40-50 applicants for a single opening. The best candidates are solid and versatile players who read well and are comfortable with number of styles. Doubling on multiple instruments (i.e. a saxophonist who plays flute and clarinet) is also highly desirable.

If you only want to work as a musician, it is always best to audition for a specific position before enlisting.  Don’t go to a recruiter first.  They have quotas to meet, and might tell you what you want to hear rather than the entire story.  On rare occassions, musicians who did this have found themselves fighting on the front lines rather than filling out the trumpet section. After winning the audition and obtaining the proper paper work, it is safe to meet with a recruiter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about musical opportunities in the military, click on the following links:

• Army
• Navy    
• Air Force    
• Marines  
• Coast Guard  

6 Responses to “The Working Musician: Military Jobs”

1. From The Savvy Musician: military gigs and the saxophonist » Bret Pimentel, woodwinds says:

   February 10, 2010 at 2:47 pm

   [...] a recent post, he discusses careers as a military musician. A couple of highlights for the woodwind-inclined: [...]
2. Military bands – the part-time option says:

   February 14, 2010 at 6:00 pm

   [...] Pimentel linked me to a post on The Savvy Musician by Dr. David Cutler about military bands.  Dr. Cutler has lots of great information there about [...]
3. Camping says:

   March 13, 2010 at 2:23 pm

   Just one thought though. Have you made composing this blog as your profession or do you do this within your extra time? Just wondering..
4. Ryan Janus says:

   May 2, 2010 at 9:59 pm

   Great post. I’m a saxophonist in the USAF Academy Band, Colorado Springs, CO. I agree wholeheartedly with all the pros, but I must disagree slightly with some of the cons. I won’t say discrimination is a non-issue, but I haven’t really witnessed much gay- or women-bashing in my 5 years so far. Remember, everyone in the unit were musicians before they were soldiers. Even our commander was a band director for a number of years before joining the Air Force. So we tend to think more like musicians and less like military men and women. I’ve actually experienced a large amount of creative freedom in our band. I even programmed a completely improvised sax quartet on our recital series – picture that being performed by four men in uniform. #9 should really be on the “pros” list. My first collateral duty was web design. I knew nothing about it, so the AF paid almost $4K for various classes to get me trained in those extremely useful skills. Now I’m a staff arranger/composer and supply tech, which means I order and manage thousands of dollars of purchases for the band every month. Great for my organizational skills, of which most musicians have very little. People may complain about collateral duties (I even wrote a big band chart called “Collateral Duty Blues”), but they all revolve around making the band run, so they are all useful for savvy musicians. I would even say #7 is a positive. We are going to these countries who have dubious views as Americans. Armed with guitars and drumsticks rather than M-16’s, we interact with the communities and create positive images of Americans and the American military. If we can get the younger generations to like us, they’ll be less likely to want to hurt us.

   The most serious drawbacks are #2 and #4. It’s very difficult to have a side career outside the military. It doesn’t matter how great of a gig you have – if there’s a military gig that day, there’s no subbing out. Difficult, but not impossible. You have to plan ahead, putting in for time off months in advance. If the gig is really that great, there’s a good chance it will be booked far in advance. I took a whole week off recently so I could go to UC-Long Beach and do a clinic, premiere and recording of a new sax concerto by Pulitzer laureate Lewis Spratlan. I got spoiled teaching college where I hardly ever felt like I was working, but regardless, military gigs are great. The players are absolutely world class, and the music is of the highest level.
5. 02B says:

   July 20, 2010 at 5:41 pm

   I served 7 years as a trumpet player in the US Army Band Field in S. Korea, Japan, and the US. I loved my job and had all of my bachelors and masters degrees paid for. I traveled to 11 countries and enjoyed the 30 days off per year.
6. Candis Taverna says:

   August 18, 2010 at 4:17 am

   The simple message reminded me to focus on attracting what I really want. The opportunities are everywhere, and I have to be in a mindset of attraction. I have to concentrate on seeing what is possible, believing that what I want is that can happen, and then take whatever steps are appropriate for the task is easy and effortless. Also, I was reminded of the importance of being clear and specific in what I want. The clearer and more specific than I am, the easier it is to determine appropriate action.