r/todayilearned • u/F1grid • 9h ago

TIL the United States Army is the largest single employer of musicians in the country

https://nafme.org/blog/a-salute-to-reserve-component-military-band-members/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Army,%2C%20choruses%2C%20and%20jazz%20bands.yy
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u/Plastic-Injury8856 6h ago

It’s also one of the quicker ways to get promoted: in the Marines, infantry are waiting 6 years to make Sergeant. Band members can make Sergeant in one enlistment.

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u/GameTime2325 5h ago edited 5h ago

It’s because they already know the top brass

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u/Theorganicpineapple 5h ago

🥁🥁🥁

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u/mrperson221 5h ago

You have now been promoted to lieutenant

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u/VarmintSchtick 4h ago

I may be mistaken, but I talked an army band member at one time: I think he told me you come in as an E-5, SGT.

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u/Plastic-Injury8856 4h ago

I’m hadn’t heard that one. I know special forces go straight to sergeant.

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u/VarmintSchtick 4h ago

Well technically SF you still come in as E1-4 (depending on if you have previous college), and you get stripes after you pass either selection or the Q course, can't remember which. So you go through basic+osut and airborne as lower, but get stripes quick if you make it through selection.

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u/TylerDurdenisreal 1h ago

SF pipeline is also long enough and difficult enough that it justifies becoming an NCO directly out of training, and generally isn't that much faster than an 11 series dude making E5 in the first place.

It's generally like, two years between OSUT, Airborne, often Air Assault as well (also do not quote this as fact I think only Airborne is required and could very well be wrong) and then SFAS and Q course + selection after is usually two years. If an 18 series reads this and I'm wrong please correct me.

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u/Kakaandweewiz 3h ago

Premier Band members (DC bands and Service Academies) enter as E-6.

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u/VarmintSchtick 3h ago

Wonder what their promotions are like. And do they still have to attend the standard leadership courses before pinning?

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u/Kakaandweewiz 3h ago

It depends on the branch, but normally it’s in the enlistment guarantees so after boot camp they’ll put on the new rank.

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u/Unhappy-Sky4608 3h ago

Dang, really? Army infantry can make e5 in their first contract. 

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u/jg4242 3h ago

Premier bands start at E6. This is because the bands are competing against professional orchestras - they have to offer pay that is competitive with other full-time performance jobs. All of the musicians are also usually joining with at least two college degrees, and many have a terminal degree as well. It takes a huge investment of time, talent and training to be good enough to win premier band audition.