Chuck, True enough. The President's Own has been that way since the beginning of it. With the quality of Marines we are able to recruit for the field bands (at the MEF/Division/Wing/MARFOR levels) and get through real boot camp before posting them to the field as bonafide Marines, I never accepted why we have to make exceptions for TPO. I am proud to be affiliated with a group of Marines called the Band of America's Few (former USMC field band members). They wear their shooting badges and other medals proudly with their band uniform as they should -- they earned them in boot camp and after. And, unlike TPO "Marines" they have a real combat mission if the need arises (litter carriers and final close defence of the CG). They, too, are riflemen first, bandsmen second.
