Serving in the National Guard or Reserve offers many of the same benefits as active-duty military service, but on a part-time schedule.  You can find an Army National Guard band in every state, 18 Army Reserve bands and 12 Air National Guard bands across the country.  Each band offers the opportunity to serve 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year in a musical unit.

GUARD VS. RESERVE

Reserve units report to the President and are part of the United States Military.  Funding comes directly from the Federal government.  Benefits are standardized across the entire country.

National Guard units report to the state Governor.  Guard units can be called to federal service with the approval of the governor.  Most funding comes from the state and some benefits can vary from one state to the next.  Guard units are commonly called up for disaster relief in the wake of hurricanes or other large-scale natural disasters.

Both National Guard and Reserve troops have been deployed in recent yeras to Iraq and Afghanistan.

BENEFITS

Benefits vary from one branch to the next, and in the case of National Guard units can vary from one state to the next.  In general terms, however, you can expect:

• Pay for your service.  Basic pay is standardized across all branches.  All National Guard and Reserve troops are paid based on the standard active-duty salary for their pay grade.  Troops earn 1/30th of their active-duty salary for each day of active service and for each “drill period.”  Basic training, annual two-week training and any other days you work outside of your normal weekends are considered “active service.”  A standard weekend is 4 drill periods (4 days pay).  Various stipends and allowances are available depending on the particular situation.  Pay increases based on time in service and rank, and pay charts are updated annually for cost of living.
• Retirement.  It’s not as good as active-duty retirement, but still can be worth several hundred dollars in monthly checks.  Reserve retirement is available after 20 years of service and is a fraction of what an active-duty retirement would be, based on a point system.
• Assistance with college. GI bill, tuition assistance, student loan repayment or other allowances may be available.
• Uniforms and equipment.  The band will provide you with professional caliber instruments and accessories (including reeds and other consumables) and of course uniforms.
• Training, both musical and military.  In the band this is usually on-the-job training (OJT in military parlance) with an active-duty band for a period of time.  Many bands will pay for private lessons with a professional teacher.  Within the band training is available for a variety of secondary duties which may have use in the civilian world.
• Health care while on active duty.  If you need any medical care while on active duty, it will be provided at no charge to you.
• Subsidized health insurance.  Tricare (military health insurance) is available at a very low premium and works just like regular health insurance.  If you are a self-employed musician this can be a great benefit to you.  Even many folks who have insurance through their civilian employer find that Tricare is a better value.
• Travel opportunities.  Bands generally use their two-week training session as a concert tour within their state or region.  Depending on the band and the individual, opportunities may be available to to travel with small chamber groups or other bands to more exotic locations.
• A musical outlet.  Many bandsmen are music teachers and performers, but many have non-musical jobs in the civilian world.  If your day job doesn’t satisfy your musical side then perhaps the military band will.

DRAWBACKS

• You’re stuck in a contract for several years.  Generally your first enlistment is 6 years, then you choose to re-enlist for 3 years at a time.
• Basic training – 6-10 weeks of standard military training.  The Air Force does have some specific training sessions for musicians that are a bit different, but still encompass the standard combat skills.
• Deployments are very real.  Bands have been deployed to the desert for the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Generally the bands are performing concerts for the troops and/or the general public, but the possibility of being shot at is still there.  National Guard bands in particular have been deployed for disaster relief, not as musicians but simply as helping hands.
• It’s the military.  Rigid bureaucratic structure.  Uniforms.  Pushups.  Firearms.  Gas masks.  It’s a part of the routine, so be prepared.
• Grooming standards may not suit you.  You’ll have to be clean-shaven when you’re on duty, so no time to grow out much of a beard.  Many “creative” hair styles, including long hair for men, will be impossible as you have to look military when in uniform.  Piercings and tattoos will be limited.
• That one weekend is limited.  Forget about that regular church gig.  You’ll have to be up very early Saturday and Sunday of drill weekend, so that gig on Friday night will be pretty tough.
• Auditions.  Competition is not as fierce as for some other groups, but there is a standard that must be met.

MY EXPERIENCE

I originally signed up with the US Army Reserve as a Chaplain’s Assistant.  Basic Training was pretty much what I expected – part Full Metal Jacket, part prison, part kindergarten.  I was in the best shape of my life when I came home.  Just over a year later I transfered to the 531st Air Force Band out of Carswell Field.  I’ve passed my 8th year in the military and I’m coming up on my 7th in the band.  The band has provided me with a very nice complement of instruments, tuition assistance and health insurance.  They’ve paid for private guitar lessons to improve my skills.  I’ve expanded my musical horizons a bit.  I currently play in the Concert Band, Jazz Band and Gavilan Azul, a latin-rock group.  The regular paycheck is helpful and summer tour is always a nice bonus to the checkbook.  After hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 I was deployed to east Texas to help get things back to rights – rewarding, but a pain being gone from my wife and my home for 3 weeks on short notice.  I’ve traveled to New Orleans, Santa Fe, Durango, El Paso, Chicago and various other parts of the country on concert tours. Summer tour is usually a very relaxing, enjoyable two weeks playing concerts and hanging out with friends.  I have a stack of training and certifications that could be good fallback skills if I’m looking for a job – I’m licensed to drive a bus or a forklift, I have hazardous materials certifications, security clearances, website design training and plenty of experience in administrative work.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The military isn’t for everyone.  Consider carefully all sides of the argument before making the decision.  If at all possible, visit with the particular unit that you want to join – every band is different.  If you need some assistance paying for college, the military is a very valid option, and by joining as a reservist you don’t have to delay your studies.  If you’re willing to make the sacrifices required, a part-time career in the military band can be a very rewarding experience.

By the way, yes we are hiring!  If you’re a musician in Texas or a nearby state, the 531st is interested in talking to you!  Visit our website or contact me for more information.

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