Basic training marching band
 

Okay so I was wondering since there's a marching band (even though they don't do a lot of marching during graduation) did they have a drum major?
(For those of you who don't know, a drum major is like a "conductor")

If you are in the 900 div. triple threat (band, choir, rifles)then you can try for the drum major of the band. We had two basically and they each did something durning grad. This div. only forms every three weeks (other 2 900 divs. Are state flags and the staff div that is all male.
The first night at boot they asked for any MU ...then they went around asking if anyone played an instrument.
Being in a 900 div. was cool...we had less time to do everything else. Can't imagine how boring it would be otherwise because I felt we sat around a lot as it was.

Okay Thank You! When you went was there a lot of competition for Drum Major?

The competition will depend on how many are actually qualified to do that job..like have they done it before, how long and how good they are. They will pick the absolute best...as they perform in front of a lot of important dignitaries during the PIR.

Eh… while experience and knowledge is a factor on picking a drum major for the recruit band (you just have to know the basic time patterns), it's more a matter of instrumentation. The Sr. Chief at the time I went through bootcamp wasn't about to let me drum major even though I was the most qualified for the job because he needed my instrument for the graduation. But if there is an overabundance of one section, someone from that instrument will probably get picked. If you really want to drum major, let the chief in charge of the band know. He's a pretty nice guy and will probably work with you.

That being said, the drum major doesn't really do anything other than blow a whistle and walk in front of the recruit band. They don't play any honors or the anthem, or really any musical support while 'dignitaries' are entering or leaving the ceremony, that's the job of NBGL.

Thank You everyone!