TromboneChat

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https://www.music.af.mil/Auditions/

This is one of the best assignments in the USAF Band Program, I spent 5 years at Travis and loved it. The touring area is wonderful and I did a lot of work in San Francisco.

The Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sargents will perform April 2 2025 at Weil Hall, Green Music Center at Sonoma State University

I am a current member of the Air Force Regional Bands. I am not assigned to the Band of the Golden West but can probably answer most questions interested forum members may have.

RustBeltBass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2025 7:03 am I am a current member of the Air Force Regional Bands. I am not assigned to the Band of the Golden West but can probably answer most questions interested forum members may have.

Do Air Force musicians rotate between bands like they do in the Navy fleet bands or do you guys stay in one post?

Also an Air Force regional band trombonist:

There is some rotation, but mainly because the three overseas band (Germany, Hawaii, and Japan) only allow people to stay for a limited time (usually 3-4 years, sometimes as long as 8). When a spot opens up in an overseas bands they search all the stateside bands for volunteers, but if no one wants to go there is a chance you could be voluntold to go if you happen to be the rank/instrument they are looking for and have been at your current band for more than a few years.

Additionally, you are allowed one move at the end of your first 4-year enlistment to another stateside band if they have a trombone opening there, which is part of a retention incentive. Otherwise there aren't many other reasons why you would rotate around. I would say it's common for many trombonists to do one overseas assignment in their career, maybe two if they volunteer.

Mikebmiller wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2025 7:20 am

RustBeltBass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2025 7:03 am I am a current member of the Air Force Regional Bands. I am not assigned to the Band of the Golden West but can probably answer most questions interested forum members may have.

Do Air Force musicians rotate between bands like they do in the Navy fleet bands or do you guys stay in one post?

Thank you for your question. Please see the answer below, tkelley216 beat me to it, nothing really to add in terms of being moved around.

What is important to note is that the band that holds/hosts the audition, (Band of the golden West in this case)is holding it for the career field, not for them. That means winning an audition in the regional bands guarantees you a spot in the bands, but it might not be the one you auditioned at but the one where the Air Force has the biggest need for this particular instrument. Candidates are encouraged to articulate a preference before enlisting and if possible, this is being considered for the assignment. But as a certain level of flexibility is required by the military, it is possible to end up in one of the other bands.