When you think of the Marines, the first thing to come to mind isn’t usually music. Unless, that is, you’re Sgt. Christian Flores, assistant band conductor and recruiter for the United States Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps band program has been around since 1990. There are a total of 12 Marine Corps bands, including 700 to 800 musicians around the United States. Sgt. Flores has been leading the Long Island band for eight years. The band plays for military ceremonies and historical events.
“The main focus of the band is keeping the Marine Corps pride alive,” Flores says. Flores went to college wanting to become a lawyer. “I thought that’s where the money was,” he says. But he wasn’t passionate about this career choice. What he was passionate about was music.
Flores dropped out of college and relied on his musical abilities in bass guitar, tuba, piano, and trombone to get by. He joined the Marines because there was an outlet for his musical talent. The Marine Corps doesn’t require more education than high school before enlisting. “It’s not about what you’ve accomplished before here, it’s about what you can do once you get here,” Flores says.
There is no “typical” day in Flores’ career life. “That’s the best part,” he says. “One day I’m a teacher, the next a talent scout, and some days a musician. I love the experience of being a Marine, being in contact with senior officers, and being a recruiter. Dealing with young kids and helping them make decisions is rewarding. The greatest part is being my own boss, deciding what to do and making it happen.”
Being in a Marine also makes you marketable for further career choices. “There is a great deal of respect given when individuals know you’re in the Marines,” Flores says. “People know that you’re a dedicated, hardworking person once you’ve enlisted.”
One aspect Flores finds hard is the traveling required. Being a recruiter involves spending three weeks out of the month on the road looking for people to enlist. “I live out of a suitcase,” says Flores. “Being on the road so much takes a toll on my family and my social life.”
When he’s out recruiting, Flores holds auditions at high schools and colleges in 11 states. Only one in 30 students are qualified to pass the audition because of recent cutbacks in music education programs; it is hard for some students to get the music education they deserve. Flores calls the cutbacks “frustrating” and “sad.” He believes music might be the only thing keeping some kids in school. But the cut in music education funds doesn’t change Marine standards. Requirements include being fluent in music, knowing the musical alphabet, sight reading abilities and performances. Flores looks for students who have discipline and a sense of teamwork.
The salary range of a Marine band conductor and recruiter depends on where you’re stationed and the cost of living in that area. The more years you’ve been enlisted and the higher your military rank, the more money you will earn. Sgt. Flores, who has 12 years’ experience, makes more than $50,000 a year. He also receives free room and board.
Flores has a broad outlook for his future. “The Marines will always be around,” he says. “If I chose, I could be retired by the time I’m 38, with a full pension. Not many 38-year-olds can say that.”
E-mail Sgt. Christain Flores at [email protected]. For general information about the Marine Corps, call (800) MARINES, or look on the Web at www.marines.com.
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