Are you ready to join the band?

So you’re ready to join the band? That’s great! First things first; you’ll need to audition. Fill out the form below and someone from the command team will get in contact with you with more information about the band and to set up an audition.

Auditions will be scheduled by appointment, and will be held at Phillipus Hall, home of the 36th Infantry Division Band, Building 24 at Camp Mabry at 2210 West 35th Street, Austin, Texas 78703.  Individuals who qualify for the position following the live audition will be referred to a Texas Army National Guard recruiter for enlistment.

_C1_3432.jpg

Providing a musical backdrop for many of the State of Texas’s most notable events, the 36th Infantry Division Band has earned a statewide and national reputation for extraordinary musicianship.  The “Lone Star” band is comprised of 55 musicians from across the State of Texas whose principle function is to support both military and civilian ceremonies.  

Annual events include performing in Austin in support of the Governor of Texas and the Texas Military Department, both Veterans and Independence Day parades, and the Memorial Day Remembrance at Sun City in Georgetown.  Additional performance opportunities include concerts, educational outreach, professional and collegiate athletic events, and protocol support and tours for the State of Texas international partners Chile, the Czech Republic, and Egypt.  

The 36th Infantry Division Band is a three time recipient of the COL George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.  The unit offers a wide array of active performing ensembles including multiple chamber groups, the T-Patch Big Band, and the award winning Arrowhead Ceremonial Drill Band and “Lone Star” Concert Winds.

As an Army National Guard band, the 36th musters one weekend a month and 18 days in the summer training at historic Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What will I do during weekend drill?

    We will typically rehearse as a full band and in several smaller ensembles. During some weekends, the band may perform a concert, parade, or ceremony, or small groups will give performances in the local community. Time is also allotted during certain weekends to meet Army training requirements such as the semi-annual physical fitness test and semi-annual rifle qualification.

  • How often will I have to work with a National Guard Band?

    Army Reserve and National Guard bands typically meet one weekend a month and for two weeks during the summer for annual training. There are often opportunities to perform other musical missions between drills.

  • What does the band do during the two weeks of annual training?

    Most National Guard Bands typically travel to a different location every summer for their two weeks of annual training to fill in for an Active Duty Band while they take a few weeks of vacation. The 36th ID Band usually spends annual training rehearsing and preparing for musical missions all over Texas for the “4th of July Season”.

  • If I don't live close to the base, where will I stay during the weekend and for the two weeks?

    Soldiers who live outside of commuting distance (50 miles or more from Camp Mabry) are provided with on-post lodging during drill weekends. Since the two-week annual training is typically conducted at varying locations, the entire band will receive lodging accommodations as needed during that time. If you live within 50 miles of the band, you will commute to and from the band each day during training.

  • What happens if I have to miss part of training due to a mandatory school or work obligation?

    A Soldier who has a conflict between Army duty and something school related can submit a request to be absent which must be approved by the band leadership. If approved, the Soldier can make up the training obligation at a later time. A Soldier cannot be penalized in any way for missing civilian work due to a military obligation. Appropriate provisions of federal statutes provide for the leave and reinstatement of Soldiers with their civilian job due to absence for Army duty.

  • Do I have to meet the same eligibility requirements to enlist as Active Duty Soldiers do?

    All Army Soldiers, regardless of component, MOS, or unit, must meet established standard requirements for enlistment with regard to physical fitness and medical screenings. You must meet the same musical requirements as Active Duty Soldiers and maintain your musical skills throughout your career.

  • Will the band provide me with an instrument?

    Yes, you will be provided with an issued instrument when you join your unit.

  • Will I be able to continue going to school or working full time while serving in a Reserve or NG Band?

    Yes! The National Guard Bands are perfect for musicians who are attending college full-time or who are working as music teachers, band directors, or other professions.

  • Is there a chance that I will be activated or deployed to a combat zone?

    There are Reserve and National Guard Bands that have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to perform music for our troops. There is not a great likelihood of a Reservist or National Guardsman to be activated but it depends greatly on the band you will be a part of and their parent organization. This is a question that would be excellent to discuss with the band you are interested in becoming a part of.

  • Will I have to go to basic training? Will it interfere with my education?

    All Soldiers must go to basic training. It is a 10 week course that can be scheduled during the summer so that you will not miss any school.

    Musicians also attend Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at the Army School of Music which is a 10 week course in Virginia Beach, VA. Most Reserve and National Guard musicians opt to go to basic training and AIT during two separate summers. In this case, during the year between the time that you graduate BCT and you start AIT, you will be working with your band while attending school. However, you will not receive your educational benefits or enlistment bonus until after you complete AIT.

    You WILL be paid for the drill weekends and additional unit training that you attend prior to reporting to AIT.