Now, instead of formal attire and a brightly lit concert hall, imagine the principal horn player wearing camouflage fatigues, crouching over a loaded rifle at a firing range. For the thousands of classical musicians employed by the U.S. military, this seemingly incongruous image is a reality. The military calls itself the nation’s largest employer of musicians, and its ranks include some of the country’s most coveted musical performance jobs. There are aspects of the job that might require adjustment for a civilian musician, though. My latest story, which published this morning, explores how some musicians become service members.

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Persons: Ada Brooks Organizations: U.S ., West