Trumpet player-turned-security guard Cpl. Timothy Szymanski with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, stands guard at the Combined Support Group headquarters compound Saturday at Utapao, Thailand. The band often is tapped for security on deployments. (Juliana Gittler/ S&S)
UTAPAO, Thailand — Members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band from Okinawa are performing a new gig as part of their mission to Thailand in support of Operation Unified Assistance.
The Marine musicians have put their instruments aside to become the base security force at the Combined Support Force 536 headquarters compound inside the Royal Thai Navy air base at Utapao.
“When we're not playing in the band, this is typically what we do in a field environment,” said band — and now guard — officer Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Bartholomew. “We do practice for this.”
Using band members in non-musical roles in the field is a long tradition, he said: “In World War II, they would use bands for stretcher carriers.”
During exercises, when the whole band is deployed to do security, they usually have a chance to play or practice. But since only the members who weren’t on leave Dec. 26 came to Thailand, there aren't enough people to form the band this time.
The musicians say they expect, and find, a bit of surprise when people ask them what unit they're from while serving as security.
“Standing guard duty, any Marine can do that,” Bartholomew said. The current mission “is a good learning experience for us. We're dealing with a lot of traffic management [coming into the compound], issuing passes for visitors, which isn't something we normally do."
As for the job itself, the musician-sentries say they like the break from routine.
“I like being out here,” said Cpl. Timothy Szymanski, a trumpet player. “It's always good to get a break from your normal work. This will be in the history books.”
While on security duty, the Marines take turns at the front entrance and on roving patrols.
“We're here to make sure there’s nobody in here that’s not supposed to be,” Bartholomew said.
Of the posts they assume, the Marines like the front gate the most, where they interact with people from other countries and aid agencies coming on base.
They also stand guard with Thai troops, who are teaching them about the country’s culture, language and military structure, Szymanski said.
“The front gate is definitely the place to be,” he said.
With 48 hours' notice — and ready to go just after the stroke of midnight New Year’s Day — many members had time to grab their instruments, including quite a few trumpets and even a tuba. They practice in their hotel when not on duty.
“I heard [a corporal] practicing flute six rooms down the hall,” Bartholomew said. The members are grouped in the same area of the hotel, so they don’t seem to be disturbing other guests.
They couldn't bring many drums though. Staff Sgt. Eric Norman — a percussionist and the staff noncommissioned officer Marine musician of the year in 2003 — is getting by using chopsticks on a table for practice.
The Marines were excited to come to the mission, Norman said, even though it killed any New Year’s Eve plans and means time away from loved ones.
“It did make it better to know that you're coming over to help,” he said. “People wanted to go to the front lines and help out.”
The mission is monumental, but the break from playing together will cause some loss — “a certain level of cohesion,” said Sgt. David Johnson, a trumpet player. “It’s going to take a couple of days to get a group mind together.”
Bartholomew is expecting that.
“We'll need a week to get back up to speed,” he said.
