1 00:00:01,550 --> 00:00:05,850 (Army Staff Sgt. Casey Cummings) So, from sixth grade I knew that music was definitely a safe place for me. 2 00:00:05,850 --> 00:00:10,380 I felt very comfortable in the band hall practicing, it made me really happy and 3 00:00:10,380 --> 00:00:12,210 I was lucky enough to end up at Juilliard. 4 00:00:12,210 --> 00:00:15,210 [inspiring music] 5 00:00:15,210 --> 00:00:20,250 When I left Texas, I was really looking for a quicker paced environment and I was 6 00:00:20,250 --> 00:00:23,700 lucky enough to find that in Manhattan, in the city that literally never sleeps 7 00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:28,320 and it was great. I loved it. I got so much work done. I built a lot of 8 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:33,500 self-confidence while being there, it was just a really good growing experience for me. 9 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:37,830 I started looking for positions and I came across the Army Field Band 10 00:00:37,830 --> 00:00:42,150 and read their mission statement and realized that they play for the veterans 11 00:00:42,150 --> 00:00:44,670 and they thank the veterans, they're going out and they're meeting the people 12 00:00:44,670 --> 00:00:48,220 they're doing tons of educational outreach and I was like that's exactly 13 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:49,940 what I would love to do. 14 00:00:49,940 --> 00:00:54,040 I'd feel so privileged to be able to go and play music for the most deserving people. 15 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,040 [inspiring music] 16 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,030 When I left Juilliard, I actually skipped my 17 00:01:00,030 --> 00:01:05,610 graduation to go to basic training. So, I finished up all of my credits early, got 18 00:01:05,610 --> 00:01:10,820 my formal graduate diploma and then immediately left and went to basic. 19 00:01:10,820 --> 00:01:15,460 I was definitely completely new to the military. I didn't really know a lot 20 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:20,140 about it before I got, went to basic training and came to the Army Field Band. 21 00:01:20,140 --> 00:01:23,480 [horn instruments playing quietly] 20 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,300 When I got to the Army Field Band, we were all making music together. [horn instruments crescendo] 22 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:35,840 Our main goal is to connect America to its army and to show the people that we are always there for them. 23 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,660 Before I joined, I didn't really understand the purpose of 24 00:01:39,660 --> 00:01:44,040 serving your country and what it really meant and how powerful it can be and 25 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,030 seeing the crowds that we get to play for and the joy that we can bring to 26 00:01:48,030 --> 00:01:53,780 people has really inspired me to always keep working keep trying and always push for more. 27 00:01:53,780 --> 00:01:59,820 [horn instruments crescendo, applause]