| Archive for The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community Bringing the serving and ex serving communities together |
| scarlets26 |
Hello everyone!Hi there.I'm a 26 yr old lifelong cornet player who's thinking of getting into a marines band! I'm currently unemployed and think a career in the Royal Marines bands looks very good. I have many questions I need to ask about this career path, presumably this forum is a good place for that? |
||||||
| Co-admin |
Hello Scarlet,
we are all possibly slightly biased on here as we are either serving or ex serving. Would I do it again... Hell yes, like a shot! Ask away with your questions and we will do our best to answer them or point you in the rright direction. Had you have joined in September this year, here is what you would have been doing now: http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/2005Troop/Term_1/term_1_1.htm There are more weeks as you can see below and as they happen, the links will become activated. They are currently in week 11 (I think) and week 10 is awaiting typing and then it wil be uploaded. This is what you can expect for basic training. If you have any specific questions... shoot |
||||||
| scarlets26 |
Thanks very much for providing that link, looks incredible! I used to work at a county council- what a contrast!!!
A few questions (a) when is the next intake, and when & where are auditions held (b) is there a minimum amount of time you need to sign up for (c) what's the pay and leave |
||||||
| Co-admin |
Auditions are held at the School of Music in Portsmouth and the next ones are Jan/Feb 06 but I can confirm that later for you. There is a stack of info on joining here: http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/actionmusic/Index_recruiting.htm
The length of your career is up to you although we will expect a return of service if you complete initial training. 12 months notice may be given at any time after completion of your return of service from either the end of training, or the age of 18 years, whichever is later. You can stay in for up to 22 years to earn a pension and a one-off lump sum. As a musician or NCO you may have the opportunity to serve until the age of 50 – as long as you maintain your full fitness and ability – and leave with a full pension. As an officer you can stay on until the age of 50 before leaving with a pension.
A newly passed out Marine can expect to receive around £13,000 + per year. There are also many other entitlements such as extra pay when posted away from their place of living etc. Leave is 2 weeks easter, 3 weeks summer and 2 weeks christmas plus one long weekend per term. Don't forget the band often work weekends so very often take time off during the week to make up for it. This weekend just gone Portsmouth Band were in London working all weekend, Saturday in the Albert Hall and Sunday at the Cenotaph. They were in this morning rehearsing for a concert Thursday night in Portsmouth. |
||||||
| Co-admin |
Current rates of pay are here... | ||||||
| scarlets26 |
Many thanks.
From that salary do you need to pay for your accomodation or food? |
||||||
| Co-admin |
I'm afraid you do but the new accomodation is superb!
Single rooms ensuite! http://www.modoracle.co.uk has a lot of the answers for costs etc |
||||||
| Aaron Aardvark |
you will of course have to (as a new recruit) muck out the aardvark everyday and take it for a walk. It needs de-fleaing every week and its manners are atrocious. Im sure you will manage however as long as you have a sense of humour. 
|
||||||
| GeoffComber |
of course , you may actually BE an Aardvark , in which case you'll fit right in...................I have one small piece of advice
RUN , RUN FAR FAR AWAY , DO IT NOW !!!!!!!! |
||||||
| RAB |
Don't listen to them,with a handle like scarlet I'm sure you're well read.
You are obviously a very unique human being, having been born with a cornet in your mouth  and at 26 you are old enough to make up your own mind. In fact , in 14yrs you'll be old enough to retire. If you take a look at the accomodation on offer now, it gives you an idea of how well looked after you will be in training and beyond(all that and a pet Ardvaark thrown in) All that good food...sport...camaraderrie...music...have you signed the form yet
|
||||||
| Phil (Gilly) Gilbert |
BatsAnd , of course if you like bats, see Dan Archer !
|
||||||
| FFoglamp |
Re: Bats
ditto sausages |
||||||
| Dan A |
BATSI would like to clarify something now........I have recently spoken to John Hillier and he reliably informs me that I was branded by the white hot bbq tongs and not the carbonised lava hot pussers sausage!!!! I think there is point of honour here!!!! The most embarrassing time was pulling up outside the local chemist and my wife went in to purchase a suitable salve for the injured area!! I was outside watching through window from the safety of my car....... I can recall the exact moment the Chemist was told where on my anatomy the burn cream was required for and how it was caused....... . Oh well thats band bbqs for you.
Gillys bats wre part of a traditional South Sea Island feast on the 1982 Yacht Trip to Tuvalu in the old Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Gilly and I were pulling lumps off these bird like creatures when an Islander helped us out. He broke the back of the carcass and extracted an enormous liver which he fed to Gilly and I. We finally discovered that it was a large bat!!! No wonder Gilly is like a rake now i do not think he has eaten since!! So Scarlett unless you are game for a serious laugh go back to the County Council!!! dan |
||||||
| Aaron Aardvark |
I'd say that admitting to having tongues round your bottom is worse than having a sausage (sorry did I mispell tongs) | ||||||
| FFoglamp |
Hi Dan, I still reckon your aches and pains came from when I finally got you in that holly bush.....oops you got me too. Mark Bids. | ||||||
| Co-admin |
Aaron... thank you for this:
I now have a keyboard and monitor covered in beer :smt046  I think I may have also broken a couple of ribs!
You lot have scared Scarlet off 
|
||||||
| Aaron Aardvark |
ah it worked.. Dont forget the fullers earth. Grunt snuffle  
|
||||||
| dartilov |
RM BandI know that they do not do the Commando course. Did they ever do it? Someone once mentioned they did during the late 60's/early 70's. |
||||||
| Co-admin |
Re: RM Band
dartilov, the Commando course is for the Commado (General Duties) side of the Corps. There have been some Commando Trained Buglers in the past and many RM Band Service ranks have become Commandos. In the 70s there were buglers in every commando unit and serving with brigade and many of them chose to do the commando course. It was an optional choice for them. The band's basic training (Militarilly) is 15 weeks and then musical training fills the next part of the training. The whole training for a musician is 2.5 years |
||||||
| MrJpig |
DAN Wrote
I would like to clarify something now........I have recently spoken to John Hillier and he reliably informs me that I was branded by the white hot bbq tongs and not the carbonised lava hot pussers sausage!!!! Sorry DAN but I don`t know how I missed this post. I was the chef at that barby and unlike the fine man Hillier remained sober all afternoon so as not to poison a bunch of fine musicians and their bugler mates. You approached the fire asked for a sausage, was offered a roll and reliably informed me that it would not be needed. Thereafter you inserted said sausage where the sun don`t shine, danced around for approx 6 seconds to the amusement of all present then pulled it out while shouting and screaming in pain MUCH MORE to the amusement of all present. Sorry mate but facts are facts. |
||||||
| FFoglamp |
Hear Hear !!! Well said Andy. I can vouch for that.
Perhaps Dan just has a chip (olata) on his shoulder about this. (Get em down, you Zulu warrior !!!!!!!!) |