U.S. Military Bugler Shortage

[Artisan]

Technology run amuck?
Pentagon developes Digital Bugle to keep up with funeral demand.

http://www.skbcases.com/news/pr/2004/item09.html

Anyone else think this is a bad idea? Since there are a few military types on the board I'm curious about your opinions? I suppose its better than a boom box rendition of taps at your funeral....Whats next, and honor guard thats SAG actors instead of soldiers?


"Facing critical shortage of musicians for military funerals, the Pentagon has approved the use of a push-button bugle that plays taps by itself as the player holds it to his lips.

With only some 500 buglers on active duty on any given day, but with about 1,800 people with military service who are eligible for honors ceremonies passing away each day the Pentagon had a real problem on its hands.

So the Defense Department worked with S&D Consulting to invent the “ceremonial bugle”. S&D Consulting turned to SKB, known for their durable band instrument cases and previous military contracts."

[The0ne]

I heard that the US Military is also running out of bullets. . .

[noodle]

note to self: before joining military, learn to play bugle. attempt to bargain for higher wages. never see front line.

[The0ne]

and bring your own spare bullets. . .

[Artisan]

I heard that the US Military is also running out of bullets. . .

True... they've contracted with Israel to manufacture ammo for them. Highest bullet consumption since VietNam.

"We're using so much ammunition in Iraq there isn't enough capacity around," said Eric Hugel, a defence industry analyst at Sephens Inc. "They have to go internationally."

" Specifically, the army is looking for 300m more bullets annually, potentially rising to 500m a year"

So, now is the time to buy lead futures?

[Soldier]

True, I don't like the idea of the digital bugler, but you have to do what you have to do, and it does sound better than the alternatives - or nothing at all.

[Soldier]

As a side note - I can think of no tune more soothing and welcome to my ears than taps.

[Dar Tanyon]

Since I am a professional musician, I thought I would weigh in on this subject. I think it is appalling to have a "canned" bugle play taps at the funeral of a service personel. Especially if that person gave his/her life in the line of duty.

If the military has a shortage of buglers, there are plenty of them in the civilian population. Civilian services are used for other things, why not this? A group of civilian buglers could be placed "on call" for this duty and trained in the proper protocols.

This final honor to our service men and women should be done right.

[Soldier]

Indeed it should. But using civilians is also not right. There is just that difference between a nice suit, and a uniform...

Neither civilians nor using a canned tune are right. Perhaps it should be left to the family which they would prefer?

[sabreklutz]

Yeh, nobody wants to play Taps, high F lip slurs are painful.

[Phoenix]

I think this is very sad. They should set up a program in the armed forces that lets people learn how to play the bugle and get payed for it. Just even the concept of digitally doing it is wrong. If they need them so much, maybe they can have veterans help ^_^

[fencerjim]

I'm sure there are a load of competent trumpet players in combat arms who would like to know of the shortage. I'm sure they would jump at the chance to come back state side and perform this duty. In previous conflicts alot of talented soldiers were reassigned to fill similar duties. They need to put an add in Stars and Stripes. That way it will not be canned music and an official armed service member can perform it. Taps is ok but revelie sucks.

Airborne, All the Way..HOAH!

[Soldier]

Oh, veterans would be a great idea!

And yes, reveille still sends shivers down my spine.

[Zelda]

I'm a civilian and reveille makes me shiver...hate to think what it does to you guys....though nothing beats the retreat at Edinburgh Tattoo on the Esplande, except maybe the lone piper on the castle.

[J.Harris]

" Specifically, the army is looking for 300m more bullets annually, potentially rising to 500m a year"

How would a 300meter long bullet fit in a gun?

[great bowyer]

i would assume that the 300m is the quantity of 300,000,000 bullets that the military wishes to have manufactued, not a bullet 300meters long. please correct me if i am wrong.

[Artisan]

How would a 300meter long bullet fit in a gun?

I'm only the cut-n-paster, but lets assume m=million, not meter.

[Iwant2bafencer]

I agree with the family decided to have the digital or none if those are the options. Also with the fact that a civilian shouldn't do it.

The question is though, which would you prefer, no taps, or taps preformed digitally? It really all depends on the person and their family.

[Artisan]

I can see why in a civillian funeral, you might have recorded music, plastic flowers, and a cheapo casket that only looks bronze - money ain't cheap, and I'm sure there are abuses in the funeral industry that bolster the bottom line, or maybe ol' uncle Harry wasn't worth the top shelf service.

But if the government is providing the symbolic honors for a veteran or a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice, then what is the point of "faux symbolism" if not solely to save money or the difficulty of getting a real musician there? Maybe instead of presenting the widow with the flag that draped the coffin, they can just hand her a picture of the flag. Whomever the Pentagon bureaucrat was that cooked up the idea for a "Ceremonial Bugle" needs to have the device inserted in his own horn and played inperpetuity at full volume.

[Soldier]

Down boy. The idea is that they simply don't have enough buglers. More can be trained, but that takes time - so this is how they're taking up the slack in the meantime. They know it's not as good, but probably figure it's better than nothing. I still like the idea of allowing the option of veterans to play.