Marine Detachment Naval School of Music
Master Sergeant Nathan Davilmar
Master Sergeant Davilmar enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in January 2001. Following recruit training and Marine Combat Training, he attended the 6-month Basic Musician's Course at the Naval School of Music (NAVSOM), in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Upon graduation, his first assignment as a percussionist was with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, Okinawa, Japan.
In 2003, Master Sergeant Davilmar transferred to the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band, Cherry Point, North Carolina, to serve as Assistant Small Ensemble Leader and Percussion Section Leader. During this tour, he deployed to Al-Asad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) Security Force Sergeant of the Guard and TACC Security Flag Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC). Following this deployment, he reported to Parris Island Marine Band in South Carolina in 2006 to serve as the unit's Small Ensemble Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Percussion Section Commander, and Training NCOIC. While there, he was active in the community, serving with several community musical organizations, including the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra.
Master Sergeant Davilmar began teaching Percussion, Music Theory, and Ear Training at the NAVSOM in 2008. During this tour, he also served as Percussion Branch Head, Basic Academics Branch Head, Equal Opportunity Representative, and Command Physical Training Representative for the Marine Detachment. In 2015, he earned the 0916 MOS, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Instructor, upon successful completion of the Martial Arts Instructor Course at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence (MACE) in Quantico, Virginia. In the following month, MSgt Davilmar completed his studies in Criminal Justice and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Within weeks, he returned to the MACE to complete a rigorous training course and earn the 0917 MOS, MCMAP Instructor Trainer. He then returned to the NAVSOM to introduce the Marine Detachment's first ever in-house MCMAP program. Continuing his volunteer service to the local community, during this tour, he wrote curriculum for, initiated, and taught self-defense courses to school-aged children (Anti-Bullying and De-escalation) at the Midway Manor Youth Center. He also liaised with local professionals, wrote curriculum for, initiated, and taught organization-specific self-defense courses to adult mental health and medical professionals (De-escalation and Room Escape w/ and w/o Presence of Weapon) at Sunrise Counseling and Psychological Services in Virginia Beach (now LifeStance Health).
In the summer of 2016, upon graduation from the NAVSOM Unit Leader Course, MSgt Davilmar reported to Marine Corps Band New Orleans, where he served as the Band's Small Ensemble Leader and Martial Arts Instructor Trainer. Early in this tour, he attended the Advanced Resident Course in Quantico, Virginia, and the Sound Reinforcement Course at the NAVSOM, where he was the honor graduate. Later that year, MSgt Davilmar won the OccFld-wide SNCO Marine Musician of the Year award with an impressive percussion recording. In the end of that year, he was invited to represent the United States military forces as the featured drum set player for the 8G Band on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show on NBC for four nights during Veterans' Week, 2017. MSgt Davilmar also trained and competed with NOLA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu West Bank and for the Marine Forces Reserve Martial Arts Team. Additionally, MSgt Davilmar continued his active volunteer service in the local community, having served hundreds of hours as a judge for Area 5 NJROTC competitions and a volunteer meet facilitator USA Gymnastics competitions whenever he returned to the Hampton Roads Area.
Following his tour at MCB New Orleans, Master Davilmar returned to the NAVSOM for the eight-month Senior Musicians' Course, where he earned the Commander Philip H. Field Award, which recognizes the senior musician student who best exemplifies musical excellence and leadership. MSgt Davilmar was transferred to 2D Marine Division Band, where he served as the Small Ensemble Leader and Bandmaster from 2019 to 2021, and he was subsequently transferred to 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band aboard Cherry Point as the Bandmaster from 2021 to 2023. During his tour at 2d MAW Band, MSgt Davilmar attended and graduated from the Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program.
MSgt Davilmar returned to NAVSOM in 2023 to serve as the Advanced Course Branch Head and he is currently the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Marine Detachment. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Worship Studies with an emphasis on composition with Liberty University and leads worship with teams across Hampton Roads each week.