Band company

Waterbug

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
33
Can you end up in band company if you dont play an instrument? I though i saw my son there,but was told he went to second company at indoc
 
See if you can find a picture with a number on his hand. There are a few misplaced pictures in today's sorting of the pictures so he may be in the band pictures but actually in 2nd co.

Overall, great job by the midshipmen that are taking the pictures.
 
My son was shown in band company by mistake I think. He had no interest in band this year as far as I know! :confused:

Sure appreciate the photo's 2012 !! It makes us parents more at ease to see them in pictures looking healthy while working hard, even if it's only been a few days since they left the nest! :thumb:
 
My son is in band company and he has never played a band instrument.
 
There actually are quite a few Candidates in Band that do not play an instrument. There is a shortage of beds and in order to allow the maximum number in at Indoc, many kids were assigned to Band. This is not such a bad thing. He will be given a chance to march with them and taught how to play some sort of instrument if he wants. Also, being in Band Co., he will benefit from the special considerations Band gets :shake:
 
I'm not bothered by my cadet being in Band Co. I figure it will work out. Although he is musical, he is much more athletic (6'-5"/200 lb) and is more focused on athletics. However, he does play a couple of instruments (guitar and piano) He just has never played in a band nor had a desire to. My only disappointment was when I asked a midshipman which company my son was in the midshipman started negatively commenting about Band Co. He made it sound like that is where all the wash ups go and felt it was imperative that he get out at all costs. I took the comment in light that it was coming from an 19 or 20 year old. I was hoping for a little more camaraderie from the group, but that’s the way life is sometimes. My son's pretty tough and not easily distracted by negative comments. I know he will do fine.
 
Sigh, the perennial story of how miserable Band Co. is. The stories about Band Co. have circulated so much that folks believe them and never bother to get to know folks in the Band. My daughter was warned that she absolutely did not want to be in Band Co. Well, guess what, she got Band Co., which makes sense because she is musical and plays several instruments. While there are times she wishes she didn't have to be in the Band, she would not be in another company. (Okay, she would love to be in a barracks with AC.)

Band Co. will be taking some neat trips this year and they had the honor of marching in the Inaugural Parade. Also, Band and varsity athletics are NOT mutually exclusive. Our daughter is a three-season varsity athlete.
 
Amen to KPMum2012 - you CAN be in Band Co and play a sport (my son was a recruited athlete).
 
Our DS was in Band Co and is now in Third Co pictures, so I'm not sure how that happened. (also a recruited athlete) My problem with Band Co is it takes a lot of your valuable time. According the the schedule six hours a week of band practice. That's six hours you lose to study.

luv2fly
 
PM???

Hi there, first time parent to KP. I've seen PM or pm in posts throughout the forum and wonder what it means. Private mail, Plebe mom? Anyway if it is private mailing, how does one do that? Thanks!:wink:
 
PM is a private message, sent only to the recipient, rather than a posting on the message board. You can send a PM by clicking on the recipient's name and window will open with several options. Choose "send a private message" - it is as easy as that.

Now, for the examination - I sent you a PM. See if you can retrieve it :)
 
Band Compnay

I am hoping someone could help me feel a little better about my son being in Band Company. He was in band in high school...has absolutely no desire to be in band at USMMA, but is in there anyway. I do not want him to feel any added pressure to be in band when they are constantly telling us how important it is to do well in the rigorous academic program at the school. I talked to Captain Fell way back in April and it obviously didn't help. Someone needs to get the message out that Band Company IS NOT a walk in the park...especially if you are forced to be there...other companies do not seem to respect them. Also, my son really wants to get involved in waterfront activities. Any suggestions?????
 
Band Co

Band Co serves a very important function at the school. The lack of respect by other companies is a bit strange, when you consider that yes, the folks in Band Co do have to sometimes do more than is asked of the others. I have a son who has done quite well in Band Co as well as in his sport and in his studies, so I may not be the right person to reply to your post. The school needs the band, so those with music experience are tapped for it. My advice as a parent - encourage him to do his best no matter where they place him an don't make such an issue out of the company that they start off feeling as if they are somehow behind the others. They are not - and the opportunities that will present themselves be being in the company are not yet apparent to the Plebes.
 
The only suggestion I can offer is to let go. They belong to KP now. If your son really wants out of Band Co. it is up to him to find out if there is a way to make it happen. From this point on it is almost always a mistake for parents to contact the academy except in cases of sickness, injury or a family emergency.
 
Just a couple of thoughts here.

First, KPMarineopsdad is 100% right. We parents must let go. Anything that changes has to come from the PC. It is their responsibility. You will only create problems if you try to "fix it."

Second, welcome to the military. Yes, KP is the military. They belong to the regiment and the regiment's needs take priority over their desires. My daughter did not want to participate in Band and still doesn't. But it is important to the school. She has a needed skill.

Third, yes, it's a shame folks outside of Band Co. don't recognize the importance and difficulty of what the Band does. Welcome to life. Band Co. folks tend to stick together and keep to themselves according to my daughter. And she wouldn't trade them as company mates for anyone else! The internal support in Band Co. is fantastic!

Fourth, there is no reason your son or daughter can't be involved in any other activity or sport they want to. Band requirements will die down considerably after Beat Retreat season. Fall is busy, but it gets better. One of our daughter's roommates was on the crew team.

Fifth, if our daughter can succeed academically while doing Band and a varsity sport, it can certainly be done! I seem to remember her first letter home boasting that Band Co. actually had the highest percentage of students graduating on time of any company at KP. (That may have been company propaganda, but I think she quoted 80%.) Our daughter says that she did best academically while she had the added commitment of the sport. It forced her to stay focused.

OK, this turned out to be longer than I intended. But the best advice I can give is to step back, take a deep breath and see how it works out.

Good luck to all of you parents. It really isn't as bad as you fear. They will be fine and they will sort it out, just like SOOO many mids before them.
 
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