Photo By Sgt. Scott Akanewich | Staff Sgt. Alice Park, 300th Army Band, 63rd Regional Support Command, powers toward...... read more read more
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FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Soldiers of the 300th Army Band usually carry musical instruments as opposed to instruments of war when taking on a mission. Their typical weapons of trade are not assault rifles, machine guns or grenade launchers, but trumpets, tubas and trombones, among many others. Rather than sending rounds downrange, they create symphonic melodies that fill the air with festive music, a tradition that dates back as far as the Army itself, when Continental Army musicians accompanied the colors into battle during the Revolutionary War.
Yet, here they were, instruments secured safely back at home base, bearing full combat loads while carrying conventional weapons as these soldier-musicians competed in the 63rd Regional Support Command Finals of the 2012 Best Warrior Competition at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., April 23-26.
Spc. Ahlam Gutierrez, a trumpeter with the 300th Army Band, 63rd Regional Support Command, realizes there is a stigma – a lack of toughness, if you will - when it comes to soldiers in his Military Occupational Specialty.
“I don’t let it bother me because I know what it really takes to be a good soldier and leader,” said Gutierrez. “Despite the fact we’re musicians, we still balance our Warrior Tasks like any other soldiers.”
According to Staff Sgt. Kirk Wang, a trombonist with the 300th and Gutierrez’ sponsor for the event, his Soldier is the epitome of the balance of tactical and technical excellence.
“For one, he’s a highly-motivated all-around soldier,” said Wang. “He’s very proficient and will someday make a good non-commissioned officer.”
Wang said he also quickly realized the additional barriers he would have to overcome due to his chosen craft to prove his toughness as a soldier.
“As far back as Basic Training, I heard it from the drill sergeants when they found out I was a musician,” said Wang. “But, they didn’t really know.”
Staff Sgt. Karina Skiffington, a pianist and percussionist with the 300th, never pictured herself serving her country while still playing music, she said.
“I was a music major in college and never really thought about the military,” said Skiffington, a nine-year veteran of the Army music wars. “But, after I graduated, I needed a break and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do professionally.”
So, she donned the uniform of her country and the rest is history – musically speaking, that is.
Despite the fact the soldiers of the 300th are musicians, they fully realize they are still Soldiers first and foremost, said Skiffington.
“We are always looking to better ourselves by playing and growing musically,” she said. “However, we know we have to be proficient at our Warrior Tasks because we are soldiers, so we always get those things done first.”
Bearing this out, Skiffington related an anecdote of an instance when they were training on convoy operations with “regular” soldiers.
“They were really impressed with us,” she said.
As for Gutierrez, a lifelong musician, he saw the Army as a chance to enhance his passion for music by adding the military element, he said.
“The Army had all the opportunities I was looking for,” he said. “Most people usually don’t get to do things like this.”
Perhaps Wang summed it up best concerning the concert of musicianship mixed with the military.
“We get to wear the greatest uniform in the world, be part of something bigger than ourselves and get paid for playing music,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2012 20:21 |
| Story ID: | 87697 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Hometown: | FAIRFAX, VA, US |
| Hometown: | REDWOOD CITY, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 420 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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