Military Musicians Need Your Help

[nss2vprez]

It should also be noted that McSally was the first female combat-pilot, who actually placed her life in harms way, so that we can continue to maintain the freedom of enjoying music. All I was doing was pointing out her position and point of view; you have yours, she has hers.

Military musicians deploy AND CARRY GUNS, performing for troops as well as the international communities to strengthen bonds and to share our culture with theirs so that we have a better understanding of one another. Or would you rather leave it to their imagination as to what kind of people we are when we drop bombs on the next town over?

If McSally wants to save REAL money, she should look no further than the BRAC which recommends closing excess infrastructure which would save billions.

I don't want this to turn into a debate, sorry, but it's important that all musicians, drum corps fans, music educators, etc. know whats going on in Congress right now.

[CrownBariDad]

Oh, don't get me started. Military musicians have all but been eliminated out of existence. All 3 bands I served with in the Navy are gone -- Mayport (FL), Orlando NTC, and NAS Memphis.

Also: Rep McSally has the typical fighter jock mindset -- if you don't go Mach 3 with your hair on fire, well ... you aren't the real Air Force. I saw this firsthand at the end of Gulf War 1 when Pres Clinton ordered a drawdown of the military. If you weren't a pilot, your days were numbered. More than a few computer officers were separated or retired. Just now in this week's Air Force Times, I'm reading about a proposal to hire specialists (computer geeks) right off the street and make them officers (Majors and above). Yeah, like they really thought that one out.

I'm seeing the same thought process here about musicians. Just my opinion. (I DO agree with her proposal to have a fly-off between the A-10 and the F-35.)

[mellojay84]

signed, and shared :) this sounds like the same rhetoric, as all the school districts who shut down music and art, but managed to keep every sport going.. it would be a shame to lose military music groups.

[Stu]

FYI, plenty of military musicians have been in harms way over the years (especially during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom). It doesn't make us any better or worse then she is. Just performing a different mission.

What you say is absolutely true; and nobody, not even her, is contesting those facts that military musicians have on many occasions placed themselves into harms way to defend our nation. But her point is that while the numbers of those trained specifically as combat-personnel, such as combat-infantry and fighter pilots, have been severely cut over the past few years the music programs should have: a) either been diminished in the same proportion as the combat programs; and/or b) do not continue to cut the personnel who are specifically involved with combat-roles, but instead move musical resources over to support combat positions. While nobody is denying, not even her, that music is important from morale, to support, to recruitment, to patriotism, the fact remains that the role of the military is to first and foremost fight for our country. That is the point she is trying to make.

[Poisonchocolate]

It's honestly laughable to point at the military music program as a monetary drain. Take a look at the many disgustingly wasteful programs the military has invested in (as someone pointed out previously, the F-35 program) and you'll see that the money used for music is an absolutely miniscule fraction of the cost of these frivolous programs with no benefit.

[nss2vprez]

What you say is absolutely true; and nobody, not even her, is contesting those facts that military musicians have on many occasions placed themselves into harms way to defend our nation. But her point is that while the numbers of those trained specifically as combat-personnel, such as combat-infantry and fighter pilots, have been severely cut over the past few years the music programs should have: a) either been diminished in the same proportion as the combat programs; and/or b) do not continue to cut the personnel who are specifically involved with combat-roles, but instead move musical resources over to support combat positions. While nobody is denying, not even her, that music is important from morale, to support, to recruitment, to patriotism, the fact remains that the role of the military is to first and foremost fight for our country. That is the point she is trying to make.

Then she is too short-sighted to realize that war isn't won just on one front.

[Lance]

the fact remains that the role of the military is to first and foremost fight for our country.

And that is also the primary role of military musicians. We're all riflemen first, musicians second. Just like the people working 9-5 in a wide range of administrative duties behind a desk are riflemen first.

Field musicians have exactly the same "combat role" and training as any other non-infantry military member. They get the exact same training as every other military member, and oftentimes do more work with weapons training, field exercises, etc than the vast majority of military personnel.

To imply that military musicians aren't ready and trained to fight for their country is a lie.

It's sad when a politician can so effectively manipulate the ignorant (and I know it's not willing on your part), and get called a patriot for doing it.

[Stu]

Also: Rep McSally has the typical fighter jock mindset -- if you don't go Mach 3 with your hair on fire, well ... you aren't the real Air Force.

I am a musician; I am also part of an ingrained military family who sees value in all military programs, including the military music programs. In light of your posting about the fighter pilots mentality who lay their lives down every time they fly so that we can enjoy the freedom of music I am just asking: What is the actual 'fundamental' role and function of the United States Air Force, The Marines, Army, Navy, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, et al? To fight in defense of our freedoms, or to play music? Even though I am a musician, I for one will lay down my instrument at any time in support of what you call a fighter jock. Just sayin'

[Kamarag]

What you say is absolutely true; and nobody, not even her, is contesting those facts that military musicians have on many occasions placed themselves into harms way to defend our nation. But her point is that while the numbers of those trained specifically as combat-personnel, such as combat-infantry and fighter pilots, have been severely cut over the past few years the music programs should have: a) either been diminished in the same proportion as the combat programs; and/or b) do not continue to cut the personnel who are specifically involved with combat-roles, but instead move musical resources over to support combat positions. While nobody is denying, not even her, that music is important from morale, to support, to recruitment, to patriotism, the fact remains that the role of the military is to first and foremost fight for our country. That is the point she is trying to make.

Yes, and she's A) doing a really, really bad job of making what is B) a really terrible and uninformed point. For example, she is quoted in her best illustration of said point thusly: “It used to just really irritate me when I would be going to an event, say for a holiday party that a general officer is hosting, and we would have military men and women in uniform entertaining us,” she added. “I used to be uncomfortable with it — that we’ve got these enlisted troops whose job was to entertain generals and their guests at various events.”

Rather than picking on military bands for plying those parties, she's ignoring the greater question if she's really serious about the point she's trying to make: Why are those generals hosting parties on the military's dime? Trust me when I tell you those parties cost several orders of magnitude more than the cost of supply a solo piano player or jazz combo to perform at them. I've played enough of them to feel fairly confident about asking that question.

[CrownBariDad]

One of the earliest rates in the Navy behind Boatswain and Gunners (and a few others) was Musician. And where would the Calvary be without buglers?