Goodbye, but only for a little while

[GregEuphonium]

I just wanted to say a quick but temporary goodbye. I'm leaving tomorrow for Navy boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois to start my new career in the Navy band program. I'll be gone for about 8 and a half weeks so I wanted to say a quick goodbye until I am done with boot camp and able to come back and start posting on the forum again. I hope everyone enjoys their summer months and I will see you all around the middle of August!

[RickF]

Good luck to you Greg. Boot camp can be tough at times, but we all come through it a stronger person and a better team player.

[davewerden]

The Coast Guard doesn't do boot camp - they have a 2-week orientation & setup session instead. So I never had the experience. I understand it can be tough, as Rick said. However, a lot of my friends in the Navy, Army, and Air Force bands agree that when you finish the program, you have a pretty good feeling about being able to do more than you ever thought you were able to!

[bearphonium]

Thinking good thoughts your way, Greg!

[bearphonium]

Anyone heard from Greg lately?

[fsung]

I seen his name in the list of currently logged in users on a few of occasions in mid-/late Oct and shot him a PM on one of those occasions, but didn't get a reply.

From what I've read on TubeNet, I presume he went from basic training straight to the Navy School of Music for AIT (Advanced Individual Training.) From some of the SOM "war stories" former military musicians posted, he may not have time for more than the occasional "hit-n'run" on the forum. (FWIW, he hasn't logged into his MySpace page since the end of Aug.)

[bearphonium]

Thanks, Felix. I, too, had seen that he'd been on, and was wondering. I know Bob Kolada was MIA for a while over on Tubenet, but is back now.

[GregEuphonium]

Hi everyone. After many long months away, I'm back! As Felix correctly guessed, I am currently at the Navy School of music in Virginia awaiting graduation this coming month before going to Navy Band Northwest in Seattle. I actually graduated from boot camp sometime around the middle of August and arrived at the SOM near the end of August so I apologize for not posting on here sooner, but Felix was also correct when he guessed that I only have time for the occasional "hit-n' run" here on the forum. Things are very hectic, very structured, and very busy at the SOM, and with the number of practice hours that are required every week (especially for someone like me who plays both Euph and bone... 2 instruments means a lot more required practice time) I don't usually have a lot of time to surf around the internet. Boot camp btw was... interesting. I learned a lot about myself and how to extend my personal limits (both physical and mental) so achieve things that I never could before. While I wouldn't want to go back to boot camp I'm definitely happy that I had the experience. If any of you would like to know about my experiences in boot camp or at the navy school of music please feel free to ask. So anyway, it's good to be back and I'll do my best to comment on the posts when I have enough free time.

[fsung]

Great to hear from you, Greg!

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation and your new gig. ... although if you work at it, you could probably rack up enough demerits to get yourself busted and have to hang around the SOM until AFTER the USABTEC.

[RickF]

Welcome back Greg. Good to hear from you.

And... congratulations on upcoming SOM graduation.