Marine Band Members Provide Security in Al Asad

American Forces Press Service ^ | Cpl. Zachary Dyer, USMC

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2007 – The Marines of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band have put down their instruments and picked up their rifles to become part of the security detachment for the Tactical Air Control Center here.

Marine Sgt. William Killian, a member of the Tactical Air Control Center security force, signals Marines in a Humvee to move forward so he can check their ID cards in Al Asad, Iraq, April 9, 2007. Killian is a tuba player in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing band. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Zachary Dyer  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“All Marines are riflemen,” said Sgt. Austin Hunt, a trumpet player with the band and a member of the TACC security force. “It’s different going from the band to doing something else, yes, but it’s great. Every time you change something up, get out of the monotony, it’s a good thing.”

Making the change from music to security was easy for the Marines of the band, according to Sgt. Stephen Talbot, a trombone player and member of TACC security.

“It came pretty naturally,” said Talbot. “We take a lot of pride in the fact we’re riflemen first and that we are able to plug into different environments, different situations and scenarios. So coming here was fun, because it’s a lot different than being out on the parade deck playing for ceremonies. But at the same time, it just incorporated a lot of different elements of training from boot camp all the way to the pre-deployment training we received before we got here.”

The pre-deployment training for the Marines ranged from weapons handling to detainee operations, according to Talbot. The job of TACC security has kept the band Marines fairly busy during their deployment, which doesn’t bother the band members at all, according to Hunt.

“It’s a change of pace,” said Hunt. “It’s always good to do something different and be a ‘real Marine’ so to speak. Out here we are able to do different things. We stand TACC security, we have a few people (acting as military police) and a few people doing badging. It’s a good change of pace.”

The role as military policemen and badge officials are new to the Marines of the band, according to Talbot.

“The band has come out to Al Asad previous times and been strictly TACC security, but this time we are augmenting (2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion), so we’re being incorporated into all the facets of a security battalion,” said Talbot. “It’s a great way for us to prove and show to the rest of the Marine Corps that Marine musicians are more than capable of being plugged into different job fields, and that we do an outstanding job.”

The band Marines are not all work and no play however. They practice in their off time and played morning colors as a band March 30. They also provide a bugler to play morning and evening colors.

“That kind of filled in the gap that I have, the musical gap, from coming out here,” said Sgt. William Killian, a tuba player in the band and a member of TACC security. “Plus, we have our horns here in the guard shack, so we’re able to keep up on our music.”

There are currently 15 band Marines deployed to Al Asad. They are scheduled to cycle out with a second wave of Marines after six months. While they are here though, the Marines are just glad they get to help with the mission, according to Talbot.

“Most of our time out here is spent doing security,” said Talbot. “It’s paramount to us, and it’s paramount for the deployment. We came here to help win the fight.”

(Marine Cpl. Zachary Dyer is assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Public Affairs.)

	Marine Sgt. Austin Hunt, a member of the Tactical Air Control Center security force, mans a M-240G machine gun overlooking a security gate in Al Asad, Iraq, April 9, 2007. Hunt is a trumpet player in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing band. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Zachary Dyer   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Marine Sgt Austin Hunt, a trumpet player with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band and a member of the Tactical Air Control Center security force in Al Asad, Iraq, plays morning colors outside the center, April 10, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Zachary Dyer    Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

[Bahbah]

God bless them, riflemen first, and if you attack while they’re playing, prepare to be beat to death with their instruments.

[SandRat]

Don’t even ask where the trombone slide is going to go....

[real saxophonist]

Hey man, I have it on good authority that a Besson euphonium in the hands of a Marine bandsman can be a deadly weapon!

Check my sig line, comes from this article.

Semper Fi

[Bahbah]

LOL. They are nothing if not creative. Whatever it takes :)

[Bahbah]

We can go from clarinets to M16s in a heartbeat

How can you not love and admire someone like this.

[bazbo]

Although I never saw action as a Marine bandsman I can tell you that we were ready! My son is currently in the Marine Band stationed at New Orleans.

[bazbo]

Forgot to say Semper Fi!

[bazbo]

By the way I played a Besson Euphonium:)

[Snickersnee]

In my few trips to Div HQ in VN I was struck by the way the HQ Co used the Band troops as “duty soldiers” — esp. helping out around Graves Registration. No thanks! I’ll keep my musical skills a secret until DEROS.

[real saxophonist]

The Besson euphonium reference above comes from my band director in high school, a former Marine who inspired me to join the Marines. He told me a story of a pretty hairy situation he was in one time where he was preparing himself to beat people to death with his euphonium, if need be. Those things weigh something like 28 pounds.

So I joined as a tuba player, at a time when I needed to get away from saxophone for a while. I was in during the first Gulf War, didn't have to go over there.

I used to have a great picture I cut out of the paper, actually an Army band guy, in Kuwait with a sousaphone on his shoulder and an M-16 in his hand.

[real saxophonist]

Oorah!

[Cvengr]

Next there will be accusations of double reeds under the Muzzies fingernails.....

Don’t bring a clarinet to a trumpet fight.

[Bahbah]

My son is currently in the Marine Band stationed at New Orleans.

That is so unbelievably wonderful. I can't imagine how you must feel about it. I never watch them play without sitting up a bit straighter, without feeling good about my country. Damn, that is special!

[Bahbah]

I used to have a great picture I cut out of the paper, actually an Army band guy, in Kuwait with a sousaphone on his shoulder and an M-16 in his hand.

That would be a wonderful thing to see.

[Bahbah]

LOL. First wet your reed, then, well....

[A.A. Cunningham]

“All Marines are riflemen,” said Sgt. Austin Hunt

Except for the noncombatants in The President's Own.

[bazbo]

He’s the baby of the four kids at 23. He came to me a few months before the end of his 4th year in high school and said, “Dad, I’m not ready to go to college”. Before I could say what I was thinking, (something concerning if you think you,re gonna live here on a free ride....)he stunned me by saying, “I want to join the Marine Corps. I was totally taken by surprise! he next statement was even more surprising. He went on to say, “Yeah, I want to be a Marine Corps bandsman”. Talk about pride!

Anyway to all you servicemen past and present, may God bless you and thank you for your service to your country!

[real saxophonist]

I’ve searched far and wide on the internet for it, but it just doesn’t seem to be there. I may have the original in storage back in Georgia, but I don’t know. Wish I could find it, it’s a cool picture.