<p>kP2010 has just spiced this discussion up. I like it.</p>
<p>first off kp2010,
you made a lot of crap up in that statement.
i never made that claim about being prior enlisted. i have said that i had a contract written, but never signed it. that's not an impressive feat considering the minimum fitness standards to get a SEAL billet on the enlisted side are lower than the standards to get into an academy. </p>
<p>about the naval academy paintball scholarship, are you serious? that's just ridiculous. </p>
<p>thanks for the heads up about my "ego bolstering problem" glad to know i've succeeded in throwing people under the bus.</p>
<p>i didn't say my company didn't have a lot of tools in it. i know it does. </p>
<p>case in point about Capt Force. last year, T. Ramming was set to go out to sea right after finals, but before graduation. he told Capt Force, who threw a fit, but eventually said alright. Ramming went in to see his ATR the day or so before to make sure everything was in order, to find out that--without his proper notification--Capt Force wrote to the ATRs demanding he get pulled from his ship. how is that not screwing him over? Ramming had to fight really hard to get placed back on that ship. </p>
<p>as far as the trained monkey thing-- i wasn't in beat retreat. i know you guys work hard for it. </p>
<p>as far as the talent show, that should have been more than painfully obvious that it wasn't my issue. i was asked to play for those guys and that song nowhere near showed what i was capable of. thanks though.</p>
<p>my company did get stuck out marching for reg period, but afterwards the CO said "sorry for wasting your time" and gave out several privilages to everyone.</p>
<p>oh,
and band company is the single greatest thing in the world. the most highly respectable aim of any midshipman at the USMMA. GO BAND COMPANY.</p>
<p>KP2010 it is obvious from your post that your gender is not the only thing you are unsure about.</p>
<p>I feel pity for you that you have to lash out so vehemently on a forum that is here to help people. This is not the venue for spewing trash talk about. I kindly ask that you refrain from it on here, and, if you have a point to make do so without disrespecting others.</p>
<p>wow 2010...you pretty much proved the comment about tools</p>
<p>kp2010,</p>
<p>Nice personal attack. I highly suggest that you keep any personal conflicts with other people off an internet message board. If you want to defend band co, then that is fine, someone above came in with some very valid points. Your attempt at a defense is what turns people off.</p>
<p>if you have a beef with me then come talk to me, seriously...
you know where to find me, obviously.</p>
<p>Here is the brutally honest deal with band; without the intention of offending anyone. Don’t listen to the advice of any parents or non-band company midshipmen. If they have never lived in Band Company, then they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. For example, I am not from the south, but I have plenty of friends who are from down south. I have never lived there, so I don’t really have the right to try to influence people to move there or not move there. I am in the band; here are some facts that will help you make the decision about whether band is right for you or not:</p>
<p>We represent the academy on a nation-wide and international stage, whether people like to give us credit for it or not. Videos of us are on youtube if you want to watch them. We have performed in Canada, and we are going to be in the presidential inaugural parade that will take place after the upcoming election, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. </p>
<p>Band doesn’t have any more or less “tools” than any other company; they are everywhere, and no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to escape them. Simply by reading and/or posting in this forum, you have already met/experienced more than one of these “tools” and have been subject to their crap. </p>
<p>Captain Force is not a bad guy. He means well. He is also aging, not unlike my grandfather, or many other grandfathers I have met. With aging come certain things, like having trouble walking (as a result he needs a cane and a golf cart to get around) and being stubborn (to explain the “screwing people over” comment). He is also very involved with the alcohol counseling program here on campus, which also does not help his popularity among people who have had alcohol offenses, or have friends who have had them.</p>
<p>There is a time commitment: during the fall, we have 2 band practices a week that last about 1-1.5 hours. We also meet every Wednesday morning for 45 minutes. We do not wake up any earlier than everyone else to do this; we just miss the daily morning inspection that the rest of the regiment stands. In the spring, we march on Memorial Day (which is tough for me, because I like to spend these types of holidays with my family) and we do have to stay for graduation. Last year, this inconvenienced me by 1 day of travel. This year it is going to inconvenience me by 2 days. One of those nights, we have June Ball (which most people stay for anyways), but we are having BBQs and time to relax with our friends (which is nice, because we rarely have time to relax). In the end, it really isn’t a huge deal. </p>
<p>As for missing “your ship” due to graduation; you can’t really claim a ship as “your ship” until you are the captain, chief engineer, or owner. If you miss the ship you were initially “assigned to” there are hundreds of ships out there, and you will get assigned to a new one, it might mean you get 2-3 less sea days which isn’t really a big deal)</p>
<p>Our barracks are old, 3 out of the 5 have been renovated; we haven’t. We are waiting our turn. They are not falling apart or uninhabitable or anything, they are just old.</p>
<p>There is a “band kid” stereotype. It lasts until about half way though plebe year when people get to know you as a person, and then it doesn’t really matter what company you in, whether is be band, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, whatever. After about half way though your plebe year, your reputation will be based on your deeds, not where you sleep at night.</p>
<p>I personally am not all that smart, but many of my companymates are. When I need help with something, they are more than willing to help me; I wouldn’t say that we are any smarter or dumber than any other company. </p>
<p>As you can see by this forum, some people don’t like band company members. At first, many of your classmates won’t. As plebe year goes on, you will find that they care less and less until most don’t care at all. The ones who maintain that “band co sucks” attitude loose friends over it in the end.</p>
<p>Some of us, KP2010 is a crystal-clear example of this, take pride in living in and performing in this company, and when people who don’t know what they are talking about say negative things about us in an attempt to degrade us, we get angry; especially when they claim to have more “professional musical training” than we do, which would explain the seemingly belligerent response by KP2010. Simply with this band, I have performed in front of thousands of people in multiple countries, so I don’t really care how much training other people claim they have. </p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think it’s as bad as people like to make it out to be, it is a pain sometimes, without a doubt, but in the end you are doing an extra service for the academy, and it may be a deciding factor for you some day if you are in a tough situation either academically or disciplinarily…</p>
<p>Bravo, a well written response to challenges made. I wish all debates could have responses like this one.</p>
<p>KingsPointer2010 (not to be confused with KP2010) very well written response, one of which I would say addresses the questions that the kids that post here have. If everyone were as thoughtful with every response, this forum would be an even better source of information than it is now. :)</p>
<p>I agree whole-heartedly with and will back up anything that KingsPointer2010 posted here.</p>
<p>Take a moment and just imagine KP without a band. . . what I picture is pretty bleak and stale.</p>
<p>As a parent, I wholly appreciate the KP Band, who I believe, auditorially (and otherwise I'm sure) instill more pride and spirit into the Academy. We should applaud them always and then encourage talented musicians to JOIN. Just like any endeavor, what you put into it, you'll get back...and then some.</p>
<p>fair enough MMAMom,
i will say, one of the single most awkward and embarrassing moments for the regiment was last year when the band was told that we were having colors indoors, so they all went to band practice, and stayed there. we all marched out to colors and there was no band.
we stood there like bumbling idiots because they didn't have the recording ready to go, so we did colors in silence. it was awkward. i think that was definitely a day that band co showed how much they hold together our daily routine.
thinking back on it, it really does make you appreciate what they do. once again guys, sorry for my harsh remarks earlier, i'll be sure to refrain from being like that again. keep it up! almost done!</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure the Academy would get along just fine without a band company, the other Academies pull it off somehow. I am definately NOT advocating this at all, but I think people go a bit overboard on the "importance" of band co.</p>
<p>Hmmm....I beg to differ kp01. I think you underestimate the power of music as it impacts morale. In my experience, I have seen it enhance performance remarkably, not to mention rekindle the human spirit.</p>
<p>
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I think you underestimate the power of music as it impacts morale. In my experience, I have seen it enhance performance remarkably, not to mention rekindle the human spirit.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think you are missing the fact that the power of hearing the band play the same song over and over again for four years is very limited. I agree with you on the power of music, it can definately have a powerful impact. I think the band at KP does not have that same power on the midshipmen. Now, for those who hear it once in a lifetime or once a year it may be different. (eg Beat Retreat, many out of town performances). </p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, I think the band has a positive influence for the Academy in getting the word out about the place and projecting a positive reputation based on their travels; however, I don't think it has the impact that you mention above.</p>
<p>i agree with kp2001, we could definitely go without. if you ask most people, they would rate the band only marginally higher than the football team.</p>
<p>It's pretty obvious that the Academy needs the band, and the other Academies DO have bands. The difference is that the other Academies hire professional musicians to do what KP does with midshipmen. The fact that KP does it without professionals not only saves the academy money but makes it look better as well. The government spends millions on the academy bands every year but the KP band uses less than 10,000 each year. Our trips to Canada are paid for almost entirely from donations and grants from previous Band Alumni.</p>
<p>I think the other Academies have their service's bands, I don't think they expressly hire professionals for the Academies. Someone have any further knowledge on that?</p>
<p>i've heard from some of my USNA buddies that their band is all enlisted personnel.</p>