Photo By Spc. Douglas York | Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division Band, Multi-National Division - Baghdad,...... read more read more
By Spc. Douglas York
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — In a perfect world, Soldiers and people from all walks of life would prefer to have a job they love to do day-in and day-out, if given the choice.
Seven Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division Band, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, have been able to do just that, thanks to the band's on-the-job training program and the support of the division leadership.
"Overall we were under strength" said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Nixon, commander of the division band and a native of Lebanon, Ohio. Personnel shortages are a common theme among Army bands.
Addressing the need for more Soldiers, Nixon turned to the 4th Inf. Div. command group for assistance.
"We told them we were short of people and right away the chief of staff told us to go get them," said Nixon. "Having that kind of support from the command group is like having Christmas everyday."
"Our division has been great. We couldn't ask for more as far as OJTs and our other units being willing to allow their Soldiers to participate in the band," said 1st Sgt. Jeremy Smelser, the band's senior enlisted Soldier and a native of Killeen, Texas.
Facilitating the movement of Soldiers into the band from other units within the division requires patience and a little diplomacy.
"There's a dialogue that goes on between most of the other units and us for a little while," said Smelser. "They (the losing units) are a little unsure how the band and the OJT program works as it's not something that is prevalent throughout the Army."
"We respect the other units and appreciate them helping us," said Nixon. "But, we also understand that if the other (losing) unit said that one of these Soldiers was critical to their mission, and that they weren't going to release them, we'd pretty much have to respect them on that."
In light of the periodic challenges Soldiers from another unit coming into the band might face, each of the seven OJT Soldiers commented on why they would want to make the switch from their current MOS into the band.
"I've been in music my whole life and I even went to college to study music," said Spc. Darnell Crater, a tuba player and singer for the band and a native of Lynwood, Ill. "I heard the marching band doing drill outside of the barracks one day, and after a year I finally just decided to go into the band's office and ask about joining. Sure enough, they gave me an audition and here I am."
Crater, like several of the other six OJT Soldiers who are currently trying to make it with the band, had the misfortune of not knowing the Army had a band beyond the drill and ceremony style most Soldiers usually see.
"I didn't know the Army had a band," he said. "I just thought it was people who knew how to play. I didn't even know it was an MOS when I joined."
The lack of awareness and overall knowledge of the opportunities surrounding Army bands is widely recognized among band members.
"One thing that would help the band or Soldiers who want to change their MOS to the band would be if retention guys (Army-wide) would communicate with us a little more," Smelser said, recognizing the need for education and publicity about the opportunities for musicians in the Army.
Adding to those sentiments, Sgt. Luis Feliciano, founder of the band's Salsa group and a native of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, noted that an increase in advertising about the band and marketing its role in the overall Army mission could address the lack of awareness about the Army band.
"If you turn on AFN (Armed Forces Network) tonight you'll likely see all the commercials for the Air Force Band or the Marine Corps Band, but you won't see one for the Army Band," he said. "If you do it's for the Washington, D.C., band and they're more for drill and ceremony and concerts."
It is this lack of publicity that helps feed the misconceptions about what the band does, he said.
Whatever the different challenges the band may face, this group of OJT Soldiers is a diverse and talented group. Of the seven, four were born outside the U.S.: Feliciano and Spc. Danny Gonzaleztorres, current singer in the band, are both from Puerto Rico; Spc. Andre Goncalves, a bassist, is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Sgt. Jose Morales was born in La Paz, Bolivia.
The result of such ethnic diversity lends to the band's ability to play several different types of music and to be able to reach out to the many cultures which make up the Army.
"Where we are from, the moment you're born you're involved in music," said Feliciano, pointing to Gonzalestorres and referring to Puerto Rico.
"I think having those different backgrounds is important, because that's what makes diversity in the Army," added Gonzaleztorres.
Moreover, while each of the OJTs have their individual preferences and specialties in the band, all of them are more than willing to play different types of music and learn from one another's culture.
"I think as a musician you have to be willing to listen to any type of music, especially in the Army," said Gonzaleztorres.
"We just learn from each other," added Feliciano.
That possibility of musical chemistry and diversity, of being able to do something they enjoy while serving in the Army, is what drew most of these Soldiers to the band to begin with.
Gonzaleztorres, a native of Yauco, Puerto Rico, and a former Multiple Launch Rocket System repairer, went on a road trip with a buddy to Dallas to listen to and sing Salsa music, a trip that would turn his singing into more than a casual endeavor.
"The guy who was playing the trumpet that night was 1st Sgt. Christopher Lopez," said Gonzaleztorres. Lopez was the band's former first sergeant.
"They (Lopez and another non-commissioned officer) were talking to each other on their breaks and asked me 'Hey do want to audition for the 4th ID band? We're looking for people to sing salsa and other types of music.' I said sure, so they gave me a card and I went to their office and auditioned," he said.
Morales is a former infantryman while Goncalves and Spc. Christopher Robbins, a native of Ashtabula, Ohio, both enlisted as mechanics.
"I joined (the Army) as a mechanic, but when I got to my duty station at Fort Hood, I met a tuba player who was in the band already and he got me an audition and I made it," said Robbins.
"I tried to audition with any band I could find at the time," said Goncalves. He finally found out about the division band and decided to try out.
"I went and auditioned with them, they liked it and I stayed," he added.
A singer since she was a child, Spc. Vonda Collier of San Antonio, Texas, was serving in an artillery unit on her last deployment before auditioning and joining the band on this one.
"This of course is a drastic change from that," she said.
However vast the differences between her last deployment and this deployment, she recognizes the band's contribution to the overall fight.
"It's just good to see people getting a good morale and a good spirit. That's basically what we're here for, in the middle of such turmoil. It's just good to be able to spread joy."
No matter the background or the reason these Soldiers decided to join the band and go through this OJT program, their talents and abilities have been a welcome relief and have helped make the band's mission to this point a success.
"We wouldn't have all the types of groups we have or even the ability to perform what we do, nowhere near it, without our OJTs," said Smelser.
In addition to lending their talents to the betterment of the band as a whole, many of the individual lives of the OJT Soldiers have been affected by their decision to move to the band.
"I was on my way out of the Army. I was running out," Crater said. "Then I found this and I was like 'Well, I might as well stay in a little bit longer and see how this goes.' So far, I haven't been disappointed."
"Because of the Army, I'm actually here (with the band) now and I'm doing what I like," said Morales.
"Our job is fun. We're fortunate. Honestly, there's just no other way to put it," said Feliciano, summarizing the collective feelings of the majority of the band.
When the deployment is over, some of these seven will stay with the band and some will not. The two singers may have to leave the band upon their return to the U.S. as their singing talents are not recognized as a formal Army MOS. However, when it's all said and done, all of them are grateful for the opportunity they have had to use their talents while deployed with 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B.
"We are soldiers first, that is undisputable," said Feliciano.
"I come from the infantry. This is totally opposite of that. This opportunity was great for me and I'm very grateful for that," said Morales.
The opportunities are definitely out there for musically talented Soldiers to OJT and eventually audition for the band. Although joining the band to OJT is not without its obstacles, Nixon and Smelser are more than willing to help those qualified and talented Soldiers who are interested in joining the band attempt to make that jump.
With that, here's to hoping that the next group of band OJTs will be as talented, as cultured and as diverse as this current group of seven.
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2008 15:49 |
| Story ID: | 20991 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 294 |
| Downloads: | 220 |
This work, Soldiers from diverse backgrounds train to make sweet music, by SPC Douglas York, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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