Army now offering 'rock star' duty

By Tim HippsMarch 11, 2009

USA Express
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, March 11, 2009) - Army Entertainment Division wants to send a band on the road to entertain deployed troops - as soon as Soldier-musicians are ready to step onto the stage.

As unfathomable as it may sound, a temporary military duty of traveling the world with expenses paid to make music for fellow troops is available through USA Express.

Keyboard players, guitarists and drummers are needed - along with vocalists and an audio technician - to form an All-Army band that can play various genres of music.

USA Express, a revolving door of deployable musical-performance groups, began entertaining Soldiers in 1992. While the faces change and the tours vary, the mission remains the same: to provide "entertainment for the Soldier, by the Soldier," the working motto for Army Entertainment Division.

USA Express plans to begin playing gigs again this spring and summer - Soldier-performers permitting. Consider this a "last call" for military musicians to get their garage band out of the garage and onto the world stage, said Army Entertainment Division officials. March 31 is the deadline to apply.

Because the deployable group will provide entertainment for fellow troops at remote installations, training sites and isolated combat contingency areas, it is only open to active-duty Soldiers and deployable Guard and Reserve Soldiers.

Application instructions are available online at <a href="http://www.armymwr.com/portal/recreation/entertainment/usaexpress/" target=_blank>U.S.A. Express</a>.

Packets should be mailed to U.S. Army Entertainment Division, Attn: USA Express, P.O. Box 439, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060. If sending via courier, deliver to 6091 Jackson Loop, Building 1434, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060.

For more information, contact USA Express Program Manager Cordell Hall at 703-806-3220, DSN 656-3220 or Cordell.hall@us.army.mil.

(Tim Hipps writes for Family and MWR Command Public Affairs.)