choices

Well blog fans we finally received our choices for our first assignment with the Army.

The choices were:
3rd Infantry Division Band - Ft Stewart - Hinesville, Georgia
82nd Airborne Division Band - Ft Bragg - Fayetteville, North Carolina
98th Army Band - Ft Rucker - Dothan, Alabama
434th Army Band - Ft Gordon - Augusta, Georgia
62nd Army Band - Ft Bliss - El Paso, Texas
77th Army Band - Ft Sill - Lawton, Oklahoma

The first two bands sound exciting and we would love to live in Georgia or North Carolina, but the title "Division Band" indicates they are not the best choice at this time. In the Army a "Division Band" will be deployed to war zones. Now if God wants me to go to a war zone I will serve and probably enjoy it, but if I have a choice, I would rather stay here for now and serve my country in other ways.

The "Airborne Division Band" is even more interesting. This band is an airborne unit. They can be deployed with only 18 hours notice and they jump out of planes. Now why would you want to jump out a perfectly good plane? One of these days I would love to parachute or skydive and have considered going to "jump school" if the Army will let me. However, I don't think I want to do that for a career. I am content staying on the ground with my saxophone. Besides don't you think it would be a little hard to play while you are falling from the plane?

Of course everyone is thinking the obvious choice is El Paso, Texas because we live in Texas. Well neither of us wants to live in the desert at this time.

So the decision is (drum roll please)


77th Army Band - Ft Sill - Lawton, Oklahoma


We both felt like this was the best choice for now. The Ft Sill Army Band has some great playing opportunities for me and we will be in a decent location for Misty to consider grad school.

Of course I have to get through BCT and AIT (school of music) first. If everything goes as scheduled we will be at our permanent station some time in March 2009. Here is a link to the 77th Army Band Web Site if you are interested: http://sill-www.army.mil/77thband

Thanks again for all your prayers. Please continue to remember us both as we close out the school year and move on to the next stage in this adventure.