PSA: For people that don't know better... you should never ask a veteran if they've killed someone or how many people they've killed. It's very disrespectful and you are probably not going to enjoy the response you get from most veterans.

EMC on getting deployed: "This is not something that I am worried about" 2020: "Say less"

I find it so great that this guy is capable of being so ridiculous and funny, as well as focused and serious. That's a pretty dangerous combo! It makes me wonder if he acts like this in real life, or if it's just a sense of humor that he puts on for KZfaq.

Wow you actually got my last name right. Most people don’t.

I served 21 + years as an Army Bandsman. In addition to our regular duties we trained on Weapons , Radio , First Aid , Close Area Security, NBC , did our own vehicle PMCS . In the Units I served with there were CIB's and Air Wings . When Division went to the field we went with them as Close Area Security , Reactionary Force and to Augment MP's . Army Bandsman have been KIA's and WIA's . The 101st & 82d Band Members are Airborne as well . Along with Clerks , Cooks and Mechanics The 101st Band was on the line at The Bastogne . At the Battle of Kaserene Pass the entire First Armor Division Band was captured while re-fueling Tanks as they pulled off the line . These are just a few examples, there are many more . Yes , we played for Pass in Revues , Retirement and Promotions , Funerals , 4th of July Parades , Veterans Day Parades , Retreat and To The Colors but we were Soldiers in The U.S Army - Mike Foxtrot !

Hey Eric, did you ever have any thought into joining a different branch's band/joining the branch as an enlisted?

I actually worked with the 1st Marine Division Security Platoon, and yes, they are mostly band members. Being a former infantry corpsman, I can say that these dudes were great to work with. Our Plt Sgt was a SSgt Trumpet player and squad leader a baritone player. Both were easy to teach and the whole platoon’s morale was very high because these Marines were eager to do something different aside from their daily playing.

Flexing on us with toilet paper right in front of us might as well put I bar of gold on the table

Me and the boys with our snares in Iraq 😏😬😡😷 🥁🥁🥁🥁

"This is some random casino from google image." Great one.

We need Jig 2 on the Tinytenors

yeah death is scary, but have you ever seen charlie the chimp from toy story 3?

I love that you did a Q+A about this topic. I just finished 12 years of service in the Army Band. Thanks for your service!

Love your videos. I deployed with the 1st Marine Division band. Many of us returned with our CAR's and a few with Purple hearts. Got asked all the time if we had our instruments in combat, we did play a birthday ball while in Fallujah. Semper Fi!

Hey Eric. Sorry to do this to you, but I have a "few" questions. - Would it possible for you to get your doctorate while still enlisted? - Specifically for marching in the Commandant's Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, is there an age-out limit that is reached before someone could technically retire with pension? - Why are the contras using 4/4 size and not 5/4 size like the corps used in DCI throughout the 80's and 90's? - Are the Marines making a special deal with Kanstul since they are ceasing production of G bugles? - What mouthpieces do the contras use if they are issued or recommended by superiors? Thank you and please forgive the length of this, I'm way too curious, lol. Have a good morning!

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards recorded an award winning record in a hangar in Iraq.

Imagine The Commandant's Own being deployed onto the battlefield and the only way they can fight is by blasting out the loudest concert Bb/triplet roll they all can in unison

Great video! Informative, entertaining and thank you for your service!

12:23 Great Timing!

8:04 PUT ON FULL VOLUME trust me :)

Fun fact, during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, a brass band played right behind the Union lines mid battle.

I'm honored to have my first appearance in an EMC Production video! :,-) 7:05

We are all needed. Rah brother. Semper Fi

I appreciate your service Eric!

Suggestion: You should do a video about comparing DCI style drumlines to HBCU style drumline. (requesting as I am apart of a HBCU style band at my highschool which is Westbury and I play the bass drum.) THX

Have you ever considered joining The President's Own? How do the regular Marine fleet bands compare to the 2 premier Marine bands? What do you plan on doing after the Commandants Own?

This was a very helpful video I’m currently a music major and business major and have always considered joining the military for band an option

10:16 -> Hey, there's me :P Thanks for all the content and the small tidbits of advice throughout all of them.

Hey EMC. what was last cadence that you played on the old rope tension snare. I’d love the dots for that. That said Awesome Chanel highly entrained. I’m an ex UK military band percussionist, so I love all the material you play. Keep up the great work

Hey Eric, how many people do you have in the drumline, and how many in the entire ensemble? I’m hoping a few years down the line after some DCI experience to try out as a snare.

Great video as always from a non drummer. I spit out my coffee at the picture of you protecting the barracks with your drum. 😂

I dunno Eric... I think some sweet triplet rounds followed by a few hertas might just make insurgents drop their weapons out of pure respect...

You should definitely march a Marine Drum Corps with the extreme 17 set tenors!!!!

It has been a tradition since the civil war that the band is in charge of camp security during war.

The band provided security in the towers while at Al Asad in 05 and 09. So yes, they deploy during war.

Wuhsah dude. Big fan!

This is gonna be epic

Can you do a videi that shows you are performing a march like Gibraltar

Eric love what you doooo

Hey Eric can you make a video on how to make tiny tenors please

10:31 I’m pretty sure these are my exact barracks. They look nice on the outside but it looks like you stay in a hotel in D.C.

I’ve always wondered why the commandant’s own uses Pearl CarbonCore drums but with May harnesses and stuff

8:04 the moment you all came here for

One of my old band directors was in the army band and he was deployed to Denver, Colorado with a riot shield. He also got tased. It's a long story.

Do you know any information about auditioning for the bugle section (specifically trumpet) for the Commandants Own? Also, do you know the reason why the Commandants Own uses 2 valve bugles, in G, instead of 3 valve instruments, in respective pitch for that instrument?

I'm joining the marine corp as a combat engineer but in highschool I WAS playing bassdrum I wasnt a god or anything should I even attempt to join the commandants own my recruiter tells me it's the hardest job to get into

Gotta love those manley man licks

I’m a French Horn Player looking to join once I get out of high school. Do you know exactly what the audition requirements are for military bands in SC? If so I would like to prepare in advance and to see what it is like. Thank you.

wow, you had the same boot time i did. just 16 years later...

Do you know anything about the Jazz programs in the military? I’ve seen KZfaq videos of some playing, and you can tell they’re all killer players, but it looks like the soul had been sucked out of the music for them. Also, I don’t march, but for some reason your videos are incredibly entertaining, keep up them dang ol’ drums.

Questioning "billet" vs. "billot". Yes, former service member here.

1 job of every soldier is well a SOLDIER if ur called upon to kick doors well u gotta do it then u have ur second job aka band cook etc etc

What are your thoughts on the 2019 DCI performances? Specially on the Blue Devils and have you thought of joining BD?

Can you make the good morning case available for the Samsung Note 10+? Also where do I get that good morning tee-shirt you had on

Instant Classic!

even in this quarantine my man is still prepared with that roll of toilet paper on his desk

Are you going to head to the naval academy and give the USNA drum and bugle corps drum line the help they desperately need?

Do you think the front ensemble would ever be expanded to the point of having a drum set position?

How much time off do you get/ are you able to go home for hollidays?

Hey, how long do you plan on being in the commandants own? I hope to be in the band amongst you all.

Eric I have a few military related questions, and obviously if you can't answer because of protocol I understand. How does it feel if a civilian addresses you as "Lance Corporal" or other enlisted (not officers) personnel by rank? How is your unit dealing with coronavirus besides not touring, are you still having rehearsal and everything? How old is the oldest marching serviceman in the Commandant's Own? Are there or have there been Marines who have transferred from another role/branch into the Commandant's Own that were not in another band? For the Commandant's Own, do you have a designated music repair serviceman?

Lets say you graduate Highschool and have the option of joining the military or going to college (both for music related things). Where would you recommend going first?

Eric holding down the beat and the fort

Hey EMC! I had a question about being in military drum lines. If I wanted to be in the Navy (and I know they have a drumline) would I be able to participate once I enlist or is the Navy drumline only for the Navy Academy.

what do you think about high school jrotc and would it effect how someone adapts to the military while being in the band

1. What songs have y'all played that you're tired of? 2. What are your degrees in? 3. How often do y'all play the sling drum (or whatever you call the last drum you played on)?

Have you ever tried to do a set with the Extreme Tennars

Eric is it a good idea to do wgi while I'm still in highschool Soo once I graduate I can go straight into dci

Sign that petition

Hey, thanks for answering my question about women in the Commandant's Own! Does Linda Santamarimba count? And my 2nd question ( that you did not answer) -- who are the judges for the CO tryouts? And here's a new one -- how often do you replace members of the CO?

how much old guard style rope drum stuff do you do? would you ever take some time to get into that sort of drumline in the corps?

I think it's safe to say we need Seif in one of your videos. Tell him to bring my drum.

WHich size step does the Commandant's Own use? Does it change with the mission?

Stop you're making me want to join the Commandant's Own now

Former 5546 (trombone), 1st MARDIV Band, DS/DS '90/'91. Most of our deployment was with the 1st Marine Division (forward) mobile command post. Not exactly a base. www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/Units/1ST-DIV-BAND/History/Persian-Gulf-War/

I play the tenor drums for high school, and I get really excited at band shows so I play loud. I don't know why it just happens to me ya know. I blew out my Spock drum and drum 2, now I need to get new heads. Any recommendations for heads that won't pop for us champs?

Eric, what's your rank an how long have you been in. Also if you could pick a different mos what would it be

Purely a curiosity question and you may have answered before I started watch which was about 8 months ago maybe but what is your rank and you plan on doing the full 20?

Please make more videos about meop

I remember a news report of the deployed troops just before the Iraq war started and the report showed the band playing their instruments in the sand. But I do not remember if they were Marines.

Y’all mind if I cymbal during ww3?

I wish I would have went into the band vs what I did during my active and reservist career

A while back you mentioned that you were working on something with Rhythm Monster, did that ever pan out?

WOW! I cant believe you said my name right Eric I one time had a substitute teacher say Kainan Hoop

By far the funniest.

So Eric, how would it work if I had a significant other and also was part of the commandants own? Like do I live on the “campus” with everyone else or could I live off site?

As a younger musician I always wonder where I can take music. I don’t think I want to do marching/military band. What other options are there?

what are all the military bands and which ones are the most prestegious????

Bruh I been trying to learn tenor drums and I literally can’t find anything I was practicing at school and was just starting to learn but then the virus came so I’m at home and I can’t practice anymore because I don’t know what to do so do U have any things I should do to practice

How hard is it to get into a military band? I play trumpet and if my music education/performance doesn’t work out then I plan on auditioning for a army band or marine band

Yes

I'm sure you don't realize that during the last gulf War there were Marine Bands deployedin support! The 1stMardi, the 2nd MarDiv, and the 2nd Marine Air Wing bands were all in country!

This isn't a military-type question but which style of playing do you think is better show style or corps style.

Another question what can I do if I can’t get tenor drums and pad

Hey Eric, do you get to choose what specific instrument that you play? I’m interested in auditioning but would really like to specifically play the drum set. I did drum line throughout high school so I have those skills as well but would ultimately like to be in my favorite spot, behind a drum set

Have you ever thought about what you want to do after you leave the Marines?

If I joined the Marines is there a chance I would be able to get into the Commandant's Own? Also how many bands are actually in the USMC? And how much longer do you plan on being there because I would very much want to meet and play with you in the military. I would probably join in about 4 years so there is your time to guess if you will still be there. I was originally going to join the airforce but you inspired me to not only change paths to be a musician, but to also join the marines. Thank you for your service and I hope you read this and possibly respond. I just want you to know that you are awesome.

How often do musicians across the board have to do ISTs ? And do they have to do any kind of requalification on the rifle while in their unit ?

what college did you go to? Also, what made you decide that College?

Did you ever march in the Pasadena tournament of Roses parade