US Navy Band Job Opportunity

Post by **b0b** » 22 Jan 2008 1:01 pm

Received via email from:
Keith Arneson, Chief Musician
Unit Leader, Country Current, US Navy Band
Washington DC
(410)279-8335
---
The United States Navy Band's Country/Bluegrass Music Ensemble 'Country Current' is holding immediate auditions for a Pedal Steel Guitar Player. The starting salary is 46k for single members and 51k for members with dependents. Full military medical and dental benefits included. For further information please refer to our website link posted below.

http://www.navyband.navy.mil/auditioninfo.shtml

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 25 Jan 2008 10:12 pm

b0b,

I'm not sure how I felt about the restrictions on appearance requirements. What if someone played their butt off and was a little to short, or a few pounds over weight? You'd think the US Military would be more forgiving.

U.S. Coast Guard Veteran,

Post by **b0b** » 25 Jan 2008 10:30 pm

Gives a new meaning to the words "band uniform", doesn't it?

I'm sure that this is a good opportunity for the right person.

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 26 Jan 2008 3:31 am

Having been a prior U S Navy Musician, I believe the age cut off is 36, maybe Jeff Agnew can chime in here, he once held that seat too.
Jeff H., if ya need some side work, my strings need changing...

Tommy Auldridge · Post by **Tommy Auldridge** » 26 Jan 2008 7:57 am

Hey Gary: Did you say the age limit was 86? I can't seem to find my glasses.
Tommy ....

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 26 Jan 2008 12:49 pm

The goverment sets all the anti age discremimination
laws,then turns around and defys them.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 26 Jan 2008 3:17 pm

You gotta do boot camp I'll bet!!!

A sailor first, musician 2nd. I know a couple of guys in the current band. It's a great gig...If that is your thing.

h

Jeff Valentine · Post by **Jeff Valentine** » 26 Jan 2008 8:45 pm

I'm a member of the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs. I took up the pedal steel about 5 months ago and have recently made it my primary axe. I was a trombone player before that, so it was a pretty big switch. I play with our band Wild Blue Country. I'm pretty sure I'm the only steel player in the Air Force right now. Yes, you'd have to do boot camp. It sucks, but the stories are great. They will hire people who are overweight, but may require that they pass a fitness test before enlisting. I think the Air Force age limit is 35, so I'd guess the Navy is pretty close to that. I can't speak for the Navy, but the job here is great in so many ways. It's great to be leaving the world of the "one noters" and joining the world of the steel guitar. I look forward to meeting everyone who will be at the Texas Steel Guitar Jamboree in March.

-Jeff Valentine

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 28 Jan 2008 12:51 am

Hay Gary,

You're lucky there wasn't an "Ugly Meter" limit requirement in the loop. :-) You'd still be peelin' potatoes!!

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 28 Jan 2008 11:54 am

Jeff, I don't recall a Master Chief Hyman being a part of the "loop." Therefore.... kiss my potato....

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 28 Jan 2008 8:59 pm

I played in the Army Band for 13 yrs.

Seems like the Navy Band has a vacancy for the CC Steel billet quite often?

It is a great gig.. paid everyday ...even if you do not play..it is a salary!

What a great way to serve !

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 28 Jan 2008 9:05 pm

Bob Cox Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:49 pm

The goverment sets all the anti age discremimination
laws,then turns around and defys them.

US Military is different. Differernt rules, laws and standards. I am sure that you understand this.

The reason for the maximum age is so that the member has the opportunity to attain 20 years of Active Federal Service and ability to claim a pension before or at age 60 (in most cases).

It is clearly not discrimination.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 29 Jan 2008 10:40 am

US Military is different. Differernt rules, laws and standards. I am sure that you understand this.

I played many years at the NCO and Officer's Clubs at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas (Now a Joint Army/Naval Reserve Base I think). What Tim says is certainly true of 'contractors' who work on base, especially at the time when Carswell was a SAC base (high security). Essentially, when you entered the base, you signed away your rights as a citizen to a large degree, and agreed to military rules and regulations that were in place. i.e. if for no reason they wanted to stop and search your vehicle and/or you, they could.. you had no legal rights regarding 'reasonable cause' or whatever. Military regulations applied, and they are VERY different.

The papers/release that you signed when you went on base defined all of this quite clearly... if you had a problem with it you just shouldn't go on base. It was kinda scary in a way, but understandable.

Oops.. sorry, topic drift.

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 29 Jan 2008 10:54 am

DOES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION APPLY TO MILITARY PERSONNEL?

Yes, with a few minor caveats. In some areas, such as right to counsel and rights (Miranda) warnings, military personnel have broader protections than those afforded their civilian counterparts under the Constitution. However, in areas such as search and seizure, they have reduced expectations of privacy and fewer protections.

Personally, I am glad there is such security and scrutiny on Military Installations.

On Active Duty everyday since 1986, I have seen this benefit firsthand.

If you have never served or are unaware of anything regarding the US Military.. this would seem intrusive and perhaps degrading.

A Servicemember obligates themselves to different standards when they obligate themselves to serving their country.

IMHO it is all totally appropriate.

Support the Troops!

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 29 Jan 2008 1:12 pm

Tim I agree 100%. Back in those days the security personnel told me that Carswell AFB was a key installation, and likely high on every 'target list' our enemies kept. I'm sure there were nukes on site so I certainly never had a problem with the elevated security and/or search and seizure policy. The only thing that really bothered me were the fighter jocks in the O Club always wanting to sit in..

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 5 Feb 2008 6:57 am

There are some different guys in the area where I live who have went into the military the past 2-3 years and one was a news reporter on T.V. the guy was over 42 years old. Of course he had to do boot camp. He's in the Army now.

Next, our assistant pastor of our church is trying to get in right now and as a Chaplain. He is 38 but will have to do the basic training as well.

Truthfully, I considered it myself guys. But I am alittle over 38 or 42 and alittle over the cargo weight. I think I'd make a great sailor but don't know about the navy.

Oh well, I gotta keep Momma warm anyhow!

Terry

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 5 Feb 2008 7:14 am

I have heard the Army has issued some age requirement waivers to get some boots on the ground but I suspect the Navy is different. About 20 years ago,there were a few accomplished musicians hired for the Navy Band, Washington, DC, that did not have to grunt out 12 weeks of basic. I believe there was a two week "get know" slumber camp.

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 5 Feb 2008 11:17 am

I think the Army Non Prior Service maximum qualifying age is 42...

USMC President's Own Band goes through the Marine Corps Boot Camp, I think.

David Kurrasch · Post by **David Kurrasch** » 5 Feb 2008 3:31 pm

I called to check this gig out, and they told me no way. I'm 36, and the cut off age is 34. The guy that I talked to said that the Navy used to be able to give waivers in some cases, but not anymore.

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 5 Feb 2008 8:07 pm

I'd hop all over it, but for two reasons:

1.) I've already tried the Navy, but they kicked me out when they found out my parents were married.

2.) They'd probably make me cut my hair. My wonderful, flowing, hippy hair.

Sounds like a real good deal for somebody. Everybody knows the Navy eats better than the other services. Course that means it's hard to keep up with those height/weight regs.

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 6 Feb 2008 6:17 am

Didn't see this until now, as I almost never look in this section. My apologies to Keith, who called me about the opening and I told him I'd post something on the forum and then promptly got distracted and forgot. Anyway...

I had this gig for ten years. If you want to play music full time and can qualify, it would be hard to find a better steel gig. How many music jobs are salaried? This one is. You get paid a decent wage whether you gig or not, although you'll work a lot. Full medical and dental benefits, cost of living adjustments, a pension if you stay for 20, commissary privileges, VA housing loans, etc. They will buy you any steel and amp you want. You don't have to use your own.

But what about the music? It's good, and the players are great. The Washington, DC-based bands of all the services are the major leagues of the military music programs. Assignment there is based strictly on performance abilities. They won't take a warm body just to fill out a slot; they'll go without. There are several world-class players in the various bands. I used to rehearse across the hall from the Navy jazz band and it was a sobering experience. There were alums from all the major jazz programs - Berklee, North Texas, etc. in the group. I'd regularly see the likes of Herb Ellis or Steve Gadd or Charlie Byrd or their peers passing through to sit in or play a show with the band.

Trivia: Ricky Skaggs auditioned on fiddle and mandolin for Country Current while still with the Country Gentlemen, after a referral from Bill Emerson, who was the Navy's banjo player at the time. Skaggs decided not to pursue it and went on to some other career.

Bruce Bouton and I auditioned for the steel chair in '78. I got the gig and Bruce went on to some other career with that Skaggs guy.

Regarding the requirements: Yes, there is a max age restriction (with credit for prior military service) and you have to complete boot camp. Upon graduation, you'll be immediately assigned to the Navy Band and get a five-level jump in paygrade/rank. Gary, AFAIK Bill Emerson was the only Navy musician who didn't go to boot camp and that was in '72. Tim, the DC-based USMC musicians do not go to Marine boot camp. They are the only military musicians who don't (probably because none of us would survive Marine boot camp) and they are contract players.

The Army has relaxed the age requirement in order to meet manpower goals (for obvious reasons) or to fulfill billets in critical specialties (medical, technical, etc.) The Navy and Air Force have not.

During my years with Country Current, I traveled the world, played regularly for three US Presidents and countless heads of state, performed at the White House, Camp David, Congress, and for hundreds of thousands of civilians across the US. The gigs range from exciting to mundane. Immediately after his inauguration, Bush #41 asked Country Current to accompany him to Beijing for his first trip abroad as President. Three weeks later, the group was back in the US playing for high school kids.

Obviously, this gig isn't for everyone. You're actually a member of the military, with all the good and bad that entails. Don't let the boot camp thing scare you away. If I can do it, you can do it. If you can meet the age and physical requirements I urge you to contact Keith and at least discuss the gig. There aren't many jobs in the world where you can not only get paid well to do something you love but, more importantly, serve your country at the same time.

Mark Edwards · Post by **Mark Edwards** » 6 Feb 2008 7:48 am

As a former United States Marine/Marine Drill Instructor (I can honestly say I have been through Marine boot camp 10 times. Once as a recruit and 9 times as a Drill Instructor) for you guys that may be thinking of applying for this gig, Navy boot ain't that hard. Yes there are some physical requirements but they are not that stringent. I can honestly say that it's 6 weeks of your life and then beyond that it's a regular job. I'll ditto what Jeff said in that you get to see the world, and from what I have seen (I've watched these guys in action) the Navy takes pretty darn good care of you with some nice perks....what a great way to promote the steel guitar. I hope someone from this forum gets this gig and has a great career......

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 6 Feb 2008 3:54 pm

We had a guy in the 2nd Marine Division's band that got in trouble and ended up in the infantry with us. If you get that gig dont screw it up or you may find yourself sanding off paint with a brillo pad and scrubbing pots for 16 hours a day on some carrier in the Indian Ocean. If I was good enough and younger I would jump all over it.

Jeff Valentine · Post by **Jeff Valentine** » 7 Feb 2008 6:52 pm

The guys in the president's own band don't have to go to boot camp at all. I guess they figured marine boot camp was too hard for musicians.... I dunno. I've got some friends in that band.

-Jeff

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 8 Feb 2008 12:11 pm

Maybe my good buddy Jeff A. can chime in here, but I recall there was a big hubba-balou about Navy musicians pulling shore patrol. Apparently, a few sailors got their fAngers busted during an arrest and could not toot their horn no more. This incident may have bled over to the Marine boot camp thing...Jeff??? BTW, Jeff took so long to respond to this thread cause he has been out in the barn woodshedding some backwards and forward rolls....on banjo