Marine Corps (USMC) Enlisted Job Descriptions

OCCUPATIONAL FIELD 55, MUSIC

Marines in the music OccFld provide music to support military ceremonies, official functions, community relations, personnel procurement programs, and troop "esprit de corps."

The secondary mission of Marine Corps bands is to augment headquarters defense in a combat environment. Twelve major field commands are assigned bands, thereby providing these commands musical support to effectively enhance military/civilian community relations.

Marines entering this OccFld will receive MOS 5500, Basic Musician. All OccFld 5500 MOSs are assigned and voided only by authority of the CMC (MM). Formal schooling is mandatory as a musician is trained for a specific MOS within the OccFld and participates in the routine functioning and administration of the unit to which assigned. Each Marine enlisting under the Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP) normally attends the Basic Course, School of Music, after having completed recruit training and Marine Combat Training (MCT). (See MCO 1130.54D).

Assignment to a Marine Corps band follows successful completion of the Basic Course. Career Marine musicians return to the School of Music for the Section Leader, Enlisted Bandleader, and/or Bandmaster Courses. The Section Leader Course is a prerequisite for the MOS of Band Drum Major (5521), and the Enlisted Bandleader Course is a prerequisite for the MOS of Enlisted Bandleader (5519).

Instrument Repair Technicians (5523) must complete an Instrument Repair Course provided through a civilian school. The opportunity to participate in a formal apprenticeship program leading to receipt of a Department of Labor Certification of Apprenticeship may be available in some MOSs within OccFld 5500; refer to MCO 1550.22 for specific information concerning this program.

 

Primary MOS's
MOS	Job Title	Authorized Ranks
5519	Enlisted Bandleader	MGySgt to GySgt
5521	Band Drum Major	MGySgt to GySgt
5523	Instrument Repair Specialist	MSgt to SSgt
5526 to 5566	Musician	GySgt to Pvt