Lamar Consolidated High School Senior Jess Osborn has been accepted into the U.S. Marine Musician Enlistment Option Program. After he graduates in May, he will begin a journey that will take him a spot in one of only 12 U.S. Marine Corps bands. There are only 50 members of each band, which are stationed both inside the continental United States and overseas.
Lamar Consolidated High School Senior Jess Osborn has been accepted into the U.S. Marine Musician Enlistment Option Program.
“I’ve been interested in a career in the military for some time,” said Osborn, a captain in the Air Force JROTC and a French horn player in the Mustang Band at Lamar Consolidated. “I didn’t think I’d be able to combine that with my other love, which is music.”
Osborn learned in late January that he was accepted into the Marine’s music program. He went through two auditions to earn the honor – first in October, then in January. Osborn played prepared solos on his horn during the auditions.
“Jess is one of the most exceptional kids I have taught in my 12-year career, said Jason Levin, the band director at LCHS. “He is a born leader with a real passion for getting the most out of the people in his section and the band.”
“Jess has two loves in his life: music and ROTC,” Levin said. “This is the perfect job for him because he gets to do both for life. I am proud that he is representing and defending our great nation, while bringing the joy of music to audiences all over the world.”
Major Steve Himber, who oversees the Air Force JROTC program at Lamar, said he knew almost immediately that Osborn would be successful at whatever field he chose in life.
“He’s focused, driven and has the determination to succeed in whatever he sets his mind to do,” Himber said. “Jess is a leader, but a reluctant one. He’s more of an adviser type of individual, but he did a very good job of leading in our program.”
Before he begins his musical training, Osborn will attend recruit training in San Diego, then have three weeks of training in basic combat skills. As a Marine Corps Musician, Osborn will then report to the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va. for training in the Basic Music Course.
The Basic Music Course of instruction includes music theory and ear-training classes, private instruction and rehearsal sessions for marching band, concert band, contemporary ensembles, jazz combos and chamber ensembles. Marines are provided professional quality instruments, receive classes in general military subjects, gain experience in some of the routine duties associated with military life and maintain physical fitness through an organized physical training program.
Osborn said that he is working on his stamina to prepare for recruit training. He believes his regular workouts with the JROTC have him prepared for the strength portions of his Marine career.
“We already do the push-ups, pull-ups and crunches,” Osborn said, “but I’ve started running more.”
The basic course of study is designed to be taught over 24 weeks. Following graduation from the music course, Osborn will be assigned to duty with one of the Marine Corps bands. Osborn said he doesn’t have a preference about which Marine Band he eventually plays in, but does plan on making the military his career.
“I’m ready to see the world,” he said. “I’m extremely excited. And I’m proud that I’ll be part of the U.S. military.”
Jess is the son of Hugh and Martha Whitlock.
The military band program is a great program. I went through it in the Army, straight out of high school. (Actually, I auditioned for both the Marine and Army bands and got accepted to both, but wound up choosing the Army because of the sweet duty station they offered me, the additional pay, and the fact that they could get me in sooner rather than later… there is nothing wrong with pitting two services against each other – and here you thought you couldn’t negotiate with the military. You can!)
The School of Music is a tri-service school: Marines, Army, and Navy all attend the same school. They have some really great ‘teachers’ and I made a more than a few friends there that I still keep in touch with today.
Good job Osborn. Enjoy every minute of it!