Posted on Jul 7, 2015
MAJ Ronnie Reams
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I noticed that a band in the MDW on Capitol Fourth was wearing old rank stripes. Yellow cavalry, to be exact. There were Sgts Major, most common, some Troop QM Sgts, Regt QM Sgts and some Sgts. Did not see any stripes of Musicians, which I would have thought would be common in a band. Why not wear stripes of today's ranks? The jackets were red and not blue, so not a Cavalry uniform. Any ideas.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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Edited 9 y ago
Perhaps it was "Pershing's Own?"

I don't know how the Army organizes their bands, but my wife was a Marine Bandsman.

We have our standard bands (Div, Base, MEF, etc) and then we have two specialty bands (President's Own, and Commandant's Own).

The President's Own is completely different than the other bands, in that they are "Professional" Musicians, not Marines (they don't go to boot camp). Instead of the Crossed Rifles which all Marines wear, their rank insignia has a Lyre.

I'm "guessing" that the US Army has a similar band, or that they have specialty chevrons for some uniforms (our Red Dress Uniform does).
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
9 y
Do they get an EGA even though they aren't Marines?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
MAJ Ronnie Reams Yes, they where the EGA, however so do Corpsman & Religious Programmers, and other Navy Personnel (On Marine Corps Regs.)

As they (the Band) are representing the USMC (and often the country), they wear our Service Emblem.
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PVT Information Technician
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The musicians of the President's Own ARE in fact marines. Becaucause of their incredibly speciliazed mission of musical support for the President and the White House, their is just no tangible need to attend boot camp. Their drum majors do come from the other marine bands around the country, so they have all attended boot camp and they are responsible for training the President's Own personnel on marine customs and courtesies that you would learn in boot camp. They are full time, active duty marines with all of the same benefits as everyone else.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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i think it has to do with one serious old fashioned tradition from the days of many yester-year
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PVT Information Technician
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The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" is the premier band in the US Army. Thier "distinctive uniform" (what it is called) combined elements from army music from the 18th century to today. The red hat represents the red coats worn by Army musicians in the Revolutionary War. The civil war rank speaks for itself. There are other interesting aspects of their uniform you can find on their website.

There are 3 "special bands" in the US Army, all of which have a distinctive uniform. Aside from Pershing's Own, the US Army Field Band at Fort Meade has a similar high collar blouse with modern rank on the sleeves. They also do not wear the yellow shoulder cord or red hat that TUSAB wears.

The West Point Band wears a uniform that very much looks like a West Point Cadet uniform, although they are not cadets. Their blouses have white rank on the sleeves.

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps wears revolutionary war musicians uniforms when they perform.

All four of these bands have a base rank of SSG. So, the rank on Pershing's Own sleeves is their current modern rank, in the style of the civil war. SSG, SFC, MSG, and SGM. They have one CSM.

I hope this helps...
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