Start Your Music Career In The Air Force Band 

Nice video! I'm a Regional Band member and want to add a few comments- (1) We enter as an E-3 into the Regional Band career field after BMT. There isn't a range from E1-E3. (2) There are actually two Premier Bands in the Air Force: The USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs & The USAF Band in Washington D.C. However, simply saying the band's name is a blanket statement because within these bands are several different ensembles, such as a concert band, jazz band, rock band, ceremonial band, and vocal group. Any one of those ensembles could have an opening and sometimes auditions are specifically held to fill those vacancies. So let's say that I play trumpet and want to audition for the Air Force Premier Band in D.C. I would be able to audition for either the concert band or jazz band (Airmen of Note) if there is a spot open in that ensemble. (This also applies to the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Premier Bands in D.C.) (3) One perk of being in a Premier Band is that it's a stationary assignment, so you avoid getting PCS'ed until you separate or retire. Regional Band members tend to get PCS'ed every 3-5 yrs on average. All this being said, it's possible for Premier Bands to travel more than Regional Bands because it depends on budget and demand. For example, the US Army Field Band Concert Band (one of the Army's Premier Bands in D.C.) does an extensive, 100-ish day summer tour every year. COVID has shifted our focus to mainly virtual outreach, so none of the military bands are traveling as much as they normally would right now. (4) Vacancies come up in both Premier and Regional Bands whenever someone retires or separates, so auditions are highly competitive. Candidates can expect to be going up against 30+ people (civilians and current Military Band members from all the branches) for 1 spot. Air Force Regional Bands in particular are coveted over Army, Navy, and Marine Regional Bands because we do not have AIT/Tech School after BMT. The audition takes the place of this training since the AF seeks to hire musicians already capable of jumping into the career field. (5) Both Premier and Regional Band members deploy overseas to provide troop morale and build partnerships between nations through music. Members come together to form the Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) Band (more info can be found on the music.af.mil website or by searching "AFCENT Band" on social media). Military musicians often get a bad rep because "we just play music" but we do so much more than that. We go through BMT, qualify for our jobs, complete mandatory training, deploy, etc. just like all other military jobs.

I really appreciate this video, and honestly all of your content. Looking into moving from my current civilian musician profession into either a Regional or Premier band position. I have several friends who currently serve as musicians in the military (Air Force, Navy and Army) who absolutely love their job.

LOL, I was literally at that invited vocal audition in Colorado :) The AF is the service I've auditioned for the second most (Army being first), and I can tell you from first hand experience of pursuing this route for 3 years that it goes without saying that all these service band jobs are hard to win, but the AF is THE hardest service to win a band job...AF is the pickiest service about everything they do as that's the service most people want to enlist in, so they can afford to be picky, but they're the absolute pickiest about the musicians they choose, primarily because there is no music school AIT after BCT, you have to be job ready for all their bands. But even being invited to a premiere band audition in any service is a pretty big deal, they don't invite just anyone, so I was more than happy to be at that Academy Band audition!

Take this like bro.

You should do a basic training video.

I wanna be on the band 😮💅💯

Can you audition if you're already enlisted and want to switch career fields?

Major Glenn Miller is the father of the Air Force Band 🇺🇸✈️

How often as a recruiter did you see Fire Protection on the list of jobs available?

Bro I need to know, the lady from your video thambnail, her RU-vid channel, today she performed is Doha qatar, I forget her band name, I remember only she said us airforce.

Excuse me sir I really want to learn how to play the saxophone but I don’t have any experience on playing instruments but i wanna know as a hobby not a career is there any clases or courses in the AF?

Hi. Some confusion and maybe you can help. Joining the AF at 18 and staying in 20 means retiring at 38. Retirement pension is less than $2000 but the TSP with a good percentage investment is well into 6 figures. Can you begin withdrawing funds each month to bolster your income and what are the details?

Dear brother am interested in job to bands please

What if you never played an instrument at all

Can you join without experience??