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, click on the "Sign Up" tab, email MarineMusic@marines.usmc.mil or contact a recruiter using the link provided below.