FORT McPHERSON, Ga. -- Five members of the Army Ground Forces Band recently took a break from honing their musical talents to learn a new skill - driving a bus.
"The unit needs people capable of driving the unit's bus for mission support, and we now can do it," said Spec. Kelly Love, a saxophone player.
The 40-hour block of training at Fort Benning began with videos on such essentials as how to use the mirrors and conduct a safety inspection.
Next, it was to the motor pool. There the course's two instructors introduced the five neophytes to the six different types of buses the Army uses. Hands-on training included popping the hoods -- some in a bus's front, some in back -- and familiarizing themselves with the different locations for checking various fluid levels.
Then, from Monday afternoon to Friday p.m., it was drive time. One trainer worked with three of the Soldiers; the other one guided the other two.
"We drove all over Fort Benning that week," bragged Spec. Kailin Eskander, the band's oboist. "One bonus was that our instructors had spent so many years at Fort Benning, first as Soldiers and now as civilians, and acted like tour guides pointing out interesting sites around the post."
On one trip, they went deep into the woods near a drop zone and got to watch an airborne class jump.
"Then we were put to the test of having to back out of the woods," Eskander said. "The goal is never to have to back up, but we learned how to do it with the help of a ground guide."
The final test included maneuvering through "The Brain Buster," which required the student driver to negotiate through a tight right turn, then a tight left turn without hopping the curb.
"It was great hands-on training from experienced trainers," said horn player Spec. Joshua Crook. "I became re-familiarized with rules of the road, gained a skill that most band members don't possess and now can safely transport the band to and from missions."
It's just another example of the variety of experiences open to a Soldier-musician. "It's terrific! I get to play music regularly while serving my country, and I am now a certified bus driver with a license, too," said Eskander, adding jokingly, "I might even have stumbled upon my retirement job through this training."
Spec. Andrew Dykes and Spec. Anthony Licata, both of whom play the horn, were the other band members who completed the bus driver training.
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