Enjoy the satisfaction of becoming a member of America's elite fighting force while serving as a member of a performance ensemble. Celebrate our nation's most treasured traditions with others that share your passion for music and service to our country in an environment that challenges you to live up to your full potential. Positively impact the lives of appreciative audiences in concert venues, on parade fields, and in professional sport stadiums around the world.
Marine Corps Fleet bands are stationed at the major commands of the Marine Corps and are located in Hawaii, southern California, Louisiana, Virginia, the Carolinas, and Okinawa, Japan. Regardless of the ensemble - ceremonial band, concert band, popular music group, brass band, or chamber ensemble - Marine musicians enjoy the satisfaction and experience gained through full-time performance with a professional musical organization in national and international venues. As a Marine musician you may qualify for enlistment incentives including 100% tuition assistance while enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
Find Greater Purpose in Your Passion
Marine Corps musicians fight for our Nation while continuing to pursue their passion for music in the Musician Enlistment Option Program. As musical ambassadors for our Nation, MEOP presents the opportunity to become a Marine and fight to advance our Nation’s ideals on the world’s stage. Here is where you will learn how to create a harmony of determination, resiliency, and talent as a Marine musician.
A CALLING HEARD AROUND THE WORLD
The Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP) gives young men and women the opportunity to fight and win our Nation's battles while pursuing their passion for music. Like all Enlisted Marines, qualified MEOP prospects must complete Marine Corps Recruit Training and all requirements of earning the Marine title.
A Musical Tradition / A Warrior Legacy
Instrumentalists and vocalists who answer the calling to become a Marine have the opportunity to enlist through the Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP). Performing throughout the continental United States and internationally, Marine musicians serve as musical ambassadors of the Marine Corps.
As a Marine musician, you'll have the opportunity to serve with one of the ten renowned Marine Corps Fleet bands throughout the world. All Marine musicians are assigned as instrumentalists / vocalists during their first enlistment. Follow-on career opportunities for leadership roles within the bands include: Directors, Enlisted Bandleaders, Ensemble Leaders (Enlisted Conductors / Drum Majors), Production Managers, and Instrument Repair Technicians.
Instrumentalist / vocalist
Musicians perform in a Marine Corps Fleet Band for concerts, parades, ceremonies, and various other official functions in support of the Marine Corps Bands' mission. Musicians perform additional duties in support of band operations, such as supply, administrative assistant, and / or music librarian. Additional increased responsibilities relating to music performance are assigned based on grade / experience, such as instrument section leader or leader of a small ensemble.
Director
Directors serve as the officer-in-charge of Marine Corps Fleet Bands and primary conductor. Directors also manage, administer, and coordinate musical performances, develop budgets and annual operation plans, direct internal operations and training, and supervise the employment of a Marine Corps Fleet Band.
Enlisted Bandleader
Enlisted Bandleaders serve as the senior enlisted Marine of a Marine Corps Fleet Band. Enlisted Bandleaders assist and advise the Director in developing the musical proficiency of the band, planning and scheduling, and supervising the necessary administrative duties of a musical unit.
Ensemble Leader (Enlisted Conductor / Drum Major)
Ensemble Leaders direct, train and manage the musical performances of the full band, to include small ensembles. Additionally, they assist and advise the Director and Enlisted Bandleader on musical development, implementation of musical protocol for ceremonies. They lead the band in concerts, ceremonies, and / or on the march.
Production Manager
Production Managers manage the audio/visual production support for band operations to include: live sound reinforcement and recording, stage lighting, digital media production, and band marketing.
Instrument Repair Technician
Instrument Repair Technicians provide repair and maintenance of musical instruments assigned to a Marine Corps Fleet Band. Additionally, they assist in the purchasing plans of band equipment.
There are two essential elements to the audition process; you must establish your entrance qualifications as a musician and as a United States Marine. The Musician Placement Director is the Marine responsible for reviewing and certifying your musical qualification. A local Marine Corps recruiter will help you determine your Marine Corps entrance qualifications and guide your through the process of becoming a Marine.
In order to become eligible to serve as a Marine musician, musical proficiency must be established in accordance with Marine Corps Audition Standards. By following a two-round process, we establish an applicant's potential for service as a Marine musician. The first round is a screening round, wherein we learn about your musical background and establish the likelihood of you successfully meeting the requirements of the next round. Upon successful screening, you will be invited to participate in the audition round, which consists of a live audition proctored by the Musician Placement Director nearest to your geographical area. This audition round serves as the final assessment for establishing musical entrance qualifications for service as a Marine musician.
Screening Round
The screening round is used to establish your musical background and potential to succeed in the audition round. You will be asked to provide audio OR video recordings performing specified musical excerpts and a completed "Sign Up" form submission.
Audio and video recording must be of a good quality and consist of all excerpts. Your local Musician Placement Director can provide specific guidance, should you have any questions.
Audition Round
Based on successful evaluation of the screening round, you may be invited to perform the audition round. The audition round consists of an in-person audition proctored by the Musician Placement Director nearest to your geographical area. During the audition round, you will perform specified excerpts and sight-read from a collection of short selections. Dates for the audition round are often published or, in some cases, individually scheduled.
For more information regarding the audition process, including instrument-specific requirements, email: MarineMusic@marines.usmc.mil
Marine Corps Fleet Bands, Director: (703) 692-1453
Marine Corps Fleet Bands, Operations: (703) 571-6433
Marine Corps Fleet Bands, Senior Enlisted Advisor: (703) 614-4308
Marine Corps Fleet Bands, Band Marketing: (703) 693-2184
Marine Corps Fleet Bands, Personnel Assignment / Operations: (703) 614-4577
Marine Corps Fleet Bands
Communication Directorate, HQMC
3000 Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350
Marine musicians perform a wide variety of military and civic events such as ceremonies, parades, festivals, public concerts, educational outreach, and professional sporting events. Music support utilizes a variety of ensemble configurations to include wind ensemble, ceremonial band, brass band, jazz combo, popular music group, brass quintet, jazz ensemble, and bugler.
Public & Civic Events
Whether a traditional concert hall, outdoor venue or parade, military band performances must be free and open to the public. Marine Bands may perform at fairs, exhibitions and similar venues with admission fees if the performance is incidental to the primary event and no additional fee is charged to hear the band perform. Additional restrictions may apply.
Policy and Legal Restrictions
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U.S. Military participation does not imply endorsement of the event or the organization hosting the event. The requested information is required to evaluate the event. Please complete all sections.
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Armed Forces musical units are organized for ceremonial and traditional purposes and to support recruiting activities. However, they may be authorized to provide certain specified presentations, such as patriotic ceremonies for public programs. Armed Forces musical organizations are not permitted to provide entertainment, background, dinner, dance or other social music at public or private events in competition with the customary or regular employment of local civilian musicians. Limited resources permit only one band and/or choir to perform at an event, and the Military Services reserve the right to cancel support to requesters who have scheduled more than one such military unit.
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Department of Defense (DoD) policies require that Armed Forces participation in public events will be provided at no additional cost to the Government, which means un-programmed costs incurred solely because of participation in or support of an unplanned activity. For example, additional costs to the Government include unplanned travel and transportation, meals and lodging for military personnel away from Government mess, civilian per diem, and overtime pay. Unsolicited contributions of money, personal property, or services (e.g., gifts in kind for lodging, meals, transportation) may be accepted for the benefit of military musical units for events that align with the DoD's mission. All costs are binding after a unit, personnel, or exhibit has arrived at an event site, even though weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances force the event to be cancelled.
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Requests should be submitted to the appropriate Military Service not less than 30 days in advance of a scheduled program. Final determination will occur no earlier than 90 days in advance. Please realize that all Armed Forces units have specific military missions and training requirements. Participation in public programs will only be authorized when such support is in the best interests of the DoD and the Military Services and does not interfere with mission or training programs. In all cases, operational commitments must take priority and can cause previously scheduled appearances to be cancelled.
Performance Request Process
Start your request for musical support by choosing the appropriate request form below. Once received, we will determine whether we can support your request. If your request is approved, a representative from the band will reach out to you for coordination. If your request is denied, you/your organization will receive an email explaining why your request is not eligible to receive support.