Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Barnett | Staff Sgt. Shawn D. Cupp, a native of Monroe, Mich., the senior operations...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Staff Sgt. Shawn D. Cupp, a native of Monroe, Mich., has been in the Army almost five years and is going on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq. Cupp is the senior operations noncommissioned officer and a French horn player with the Task Force Marne Band, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga.
During middle school, Cupp transitioned from the trumpet to the French horn.
“My Grandmother went to school for music when she was younger,” said Cupp. “She advised me, even though I was a really good trumpet player, to switch to the French horn. She told me that there are a million great trumpet players in the world that will be lining up around the corner to get a job, and there’s really not that many great French horn players out there.
“I hated it until ninth grade, when I was taught by Linda Deatrick,” said Cupp, as he spoke about his high school horn section instructor. “She was really eccentric and very spontaneous.”
He would have to do these long tone exercises that are normally boring, but she made it fun for him somehow, shared Cupp.
Prior to enlisting into the Army, Cupp performed with the Southfield Symphony, Croswell Opera House, Monroe Community College Band, Macomb Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Symphony orchestra, and the Southern Great Lakes Symphony.
After completing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., November 2005, he graduated from the U.S. Army School of Music at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va., as a bandsperson with an emphasis in French horn and an instructor qualification in music theory, April 2006.
“My college instructor was a former [United States Army Band] “Pershing’s Own” performer and told me all about Army bands,” shared Cupp.
“I wanted full time employment that would help pay off my student loans and allow me to play [music] more than I already was,” said Cupp.
At first Cupp tried out for special bands in the Navy. After being accepted into the Army band with 3rd ID, Cupp decided he liked it and stayed. He plans to pursue a warrant officer career in the near future.
During his deployment with 3rd ID, Cupp has been taking care of operational missions for the band.
He ensures that band groups such as “4 Horsemen of the Arockalypse” and “Sasquatch” are able to entertain armed forces throughout United States Division – North, by coordinating and planning transportation of equipment and personnel, facilities, overnight billeting if needed and more. Cupp considers himself to be the military equivalent of a band manager.
The son of Sheila and Al Bussell of Monroe, Mich., Cupp is a 1998 graduate of Jefferson High School. He attended Eastern Michigan University from 1998 to 2002. Currently, Cupp is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Central Michigan University. Staff Sergeant and his wife, Brandie Cupp, have two sons, Joshua, 1, and Caleb, 5. His family currently resides in Taylor, Mich.
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.09.2010 11:53 |
| Story ID: | 52606 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 362 |
| Downloads: | 179 |
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