What do they do for the military? Do they fight? Do they get paid? Are they outsourced musicians or are they actually part of the military? Also, why?
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Ok, so I have spent 13 years as an oboist in the US Army bands. In addition to ceremonies and troop entertainment that has already been mentioned, we are often used for “soft diplomacy.” We can go places where regular troops couldn’t. My unit had played in Red Square (before I got there.) We were supposed to go to Moscow again, then Russia invaded Crimea, so we couldn’t. But our replacement mission was Latvia. We were able to be a military presence to our allies near Russia, let them know the US hadn’t forgotten about them, but in a way that wouldn’t trigger Russia.
Also background music during state dinners, recruitment, parades, “friendship” concerts in foreign countries, etc. The military is actually the largest employer of musicians in the US.
We do go through basic training, with the exception of The Presidents Own. When deployed, often used as gate guards and the like. I have also done such fun tasks as clean a moat and sandbag a fort for a hurricane. We have to keep our physical fitness up and qualify on the rifle twice a year. Depending on the service depends on how much musician to how much soldier you are. Air Force is more musician than Airmen. Marines are mainly Marines that sometimes get to play their instruments.
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