An Officer and a Maestro

This Wednesday, December 8, 2010, I joined the U.S. Army as a Conductor and Officer Candidate. As a Conductor-Officer, I'll work with some of the best musicians in America (bands, choirs, and the Army Symphony Orchestra). I will tour frequently, perform more than I ever thought possible, and live in a variety of exciting and interesting places. Most importantly, I'll make outstanding music and I'll serve my community, the USA, and the world. There are only 24 U.S. Army Officer Conductors, so the selection process was grueling; It is a big honor and responsibility.

I ship out on February 1, 2011, to Ft. Benning, GA, for three months of Basic Training. On April 18, 2011, I will begin three months of Officer Candidate School (also at Ft. Benning). I will receive my commission on July 7, 2011, and head over to Virginia Beach, VA, for a three-month Army music leadership course at the Army School of Music. After that, possible assignments include Newport News (VA), West Point (NY), Washington D.C. (Ft. Meade or Ft. Myers), Ft. Bragg (NC), and Heidelberg (Germany). I don't know yet where I will live in the fall of 2011, but my sources tell me that my first station will either be Ft. Eustis (Newport News, VA) or Ft. Bragg, NC. I will find out next summer.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

1. Is this a joke? No. I'm joining the Army and will be an officer and a conductor.
   
   
2. You have to go to basic training? Yes. I will go to 10 weeks of basic training (in Ft. Benning, GA), then 12 weeks of Officer Candidate School (also Ft. Benning, GA). I'm sincerely looking forward to both.
   
   
3. You have to shoot a weapon? Do push-ups and sit-ups, etc.? Yes. Army musicians must become soldiers first. By the time I start conducting army ensembles in fall 2011, I will be certified on an M-16 assault rifle and 9 mm sidearm, and I will have done thousands of push-ups and sit-ups. No problem. I am fit and ready. I've been doing intense PT (physical training) for months in anticipation.
   
   
4. You'll be an officer? Yes. In October 2011, I will start as a 2nd Lieutenant. I hope to achieve the rank of Captain in 2-4 years.
   
   
5. Who/what will you conduct? I could conduct any of the Army's 6 special bands, 3 professional choirs, the Army string orchestra, or the Army Symphony Orchestra (all comprised of great professional musicians). I will inevitably conduct concerts for presidents, royalty, heads of state, diplomats, soldiers and their families, and the public. I will conduct at the Capital, the White House, in concert halls across America, on TV, or wherever I am needed. I will conduct patriotic, pops, classical, and contemporary music for various ensembles. Essentially, I will conduct a lot. The job description is here: http://www.usarmyband.com/jobs/conductor_-_army_band_programs.html
   
   
6. Could you be sent to war? Yes, I could be deployed to entertain troops. No, I'm not scared of being deployed.
   
   
7. How does one become a conductor in the Army? You must first be talented and experienced, then you have to apply. If you are lucky, you are invited to a two-day audition, to be tested on musicianship, sight-reading, sight-singing, ear training, musical dictation, music theory, knowledge of instruments, and foreign languages. If you make it through that process, you get to conduct one of the great Army Bands. An interview by a panel of band officers follows. If offered a job, you must then begin the process of enlisting and becoming an officer candidate, which is as difficult as winning the job offer. You must pass a series of tests, including the ASVAB (aptitude test), a physical examination, a physical fitness test, and a background check. You must complete a ton of paperwork, provide mountains of documents, and sit before a Local Officer Board that will determined if you are fit to be an Army officer. Then, after final approval, you get a contract and ship out date.
   
   
8. How did it happen for you? I was invited to audition at Ft. Myer (Washington D.C.) in May 2010. During my audition, I conducted the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" and the U.S. Army Chorus - they were amazing!
   
   
   "Pershing's Own" at Lincoln Center
   
   
   I was offered the job on May 25, 2010. I sat before a Local Officer Board at Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn, on October 1, 2010. I received a contracton Wednesday, December 8, 2010.
   
   
   This is where I took my oath. Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn.
   
   
   
9. Will you still conduct the Astoria Symphony and/or the Round Rock Symphony? Guest conductors will fill my shoes while I am in Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (thank you Bahman, Jonathan, Grant, Kirk, and Adam). After my initial training, I'll conduct those groups whenever possible. Of course, I'll have to resign my position at the Manhattan School of Music. My last day is January 21.
   
   
10. What does Taylor think about this? She is behind me 100%. We made this decision together and she supports it completely. Tay will stay in NYC for my 9 months of training, though she'll come visit me often in Georgia and Virginia. In October 2011, we'll be reunited for good. She is excited to go on this adventure with me, to be an Army wife, and to spend more time writing.

There is a lot of fine music to be made in the Army, and the Army has offered me a way to make a real mark as a conductor. I have a lot to offer and a lot to gain, so of course I am very excited.

Hooah!

Army Strong,
SPC Silas Nathaniel Huff
Officer Candidate and Conductor, U.S. Army