Master Sgt. Kevin Oess currently serves as enlisted bandleader, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. In this capacity he is the senior enlisted advisor and Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (SNCOIC) of the band. He serves as the band’s primary point-of-contact for inquiries and requests for band performances and advises the director in developing the musical proficiency of the band and in planning and supervising all training, operations, and administrative duties within the band. Master Sgt. Oess leads the band in performance or assists in preparing the band for concerts, parades, and other functions.
Master Sgt. Oess enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003 and completed Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California and Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He completed the Basic Music Course in 2004 at the Armed Forces School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Master Sgt. Oess served as a clarinet and saxophone instrumentalist in the following fleet Marine bands: Marine Air Ground Combat Center Band (2004-2008); 1st Marine Division Band (2008-2011); and Marine Band San Diego (2012-2013). Master Sgt. Oess served as a small ensemble leader in the following fleet Marine bands: Marine Band San Diego (2013-2014); 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band (2014-2017), and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band (2020-2022). As do all fleet Marine musicians, Master Sgt. Oess served in a variety of music, collateral duty, and leadership roles, to include platoon leadership.
From 2017-2020, he served as a musician technical assistant with 9th Marine Corps District and as music procurement chief with Marine Corps Recruiting Command (2022-2025).
Master Sgt. Oess attended the Sound Reinforcement Course (2009), Unit Leader Course (2011), Advanced Musician Course (2017) and is a graduate of First Sergeant and Master Sergeant Seminar (2024). His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award).