"I won a band camp scholarship through my school band program," Dan explains. "I missed some airshows that my squadron participates in, but it was my first choice." He may have given up some airshows, but he did manage to attend the ILWG summer encampment at Volk Field, where he was chosen as the OTS Honor Cadet.

The burning question, of course, is: when most National Cadet Summer Activities send Cadets aloft, teach them to lead, train them to assist or challenge them to survive; what’s the point of an activity where all they do is play music? Well, Dan went with the goal of improving his music and marching abilities. However, he was happy to take full advantage of the other opportunities that presented themselves. What opportunities? Read on...

The National Military Music Academy was organized in 1997, held its first activity at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland in July 1999. It was established as a national activity by CAP National Commander BGen Jay Bobick after the success of the 2000 event. The two-week activity includes instruction in field music - which is fife, drum, and bugle - and other basics of military music. When it’s all over, the attendees are awarded certificates of recognition by the Civil Air Patrol and membership in the International Association of Field Musicians.

The agenda for this year? Practice, practice, practice. "Fewer rehearsals!", Dan says when asked how he’d improve the activity. He’d probably agree that those rehearsals came in handy when the NMMA Cadets performed with the Air Force Band, or when they played at Arlington National Cemetary or when they participated in the world’s largest field music festival, the Deep River Ancient Muster.

"We ’re not your typical band camp," says NMMA staffer, CAP Major George Carroll. "I know of no other training that allows young musicians to play with the U.S. Air Force Band, to perform Taps at Arlington National Cemetery, to take part in honoring our nation’s war heroes, and to root themselves into America’s rich heritage of military music."

The activity got off to a roaring start on the first day. The Cadets joined the members of the Bethesda Navy Hospital band practicing to provide music for a graduation. "Most of them were Navy, some Marines and one Army colonel. We rehearsed for about an hour-and-a-half and then played for the ceremony a couple days later." Nothing like hitting the ground running!

The Deep River Ancient Muster - or DRAM - was the next stop for the Cadets. Held each July in Deep River, Connecticut for the last fifty years, the DRAM is a gathering of fife and drum corps. Its mission is: "To foster and perpetuate the tradition of ancient martial music." Fife and drum corps from all over the world attend the muster each year. It is the single largest fife and drum corps parade in the world.

"The Deep River Ancient Muster was awesome!" Dan says. "We put together our fife, drum and bugle unit in three days - it usually it takes more than a year." In addition to the quick preparation time, the NMMA Cadets had the distinction of being the first fife, drum and bugle corps to ever perform there. "We marched in the parade and then watched the other units and visited the booths of the other groups. There were groups there from all over the world."

Military music may have been the focus of the NMMA, but it certainly wasn’t the only type of music the Cadets played. After returning from the DRAM, Dan finally got to dig out his saxophone. "I was tired of playing drums!" he says.

The next two days were loaded with rehearsals by the NMMA swing band. "We had four fifty minute rehearsals on Monday, five on Teusday." Playing Zoot Suit Riot apparently made up for it, though. Especially since the next day was when they were due to spend time with the Air Force Band.

In the morning the Cadets were off to Hangar 2 at Bolling Air Force Base to spend half a day with the Air Force Concert Band. The NMMA Cadets learned about the history of the band, then rehearsed with them and recorded two tracks for the NMMA CD. There was also a chance just to spend some time talking with the band members. "I especially enjoyed visiting with and playing next to the first chair sax player," Dan says.

They finished the day with a tour of Arlington National Cemetary, including watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

On Thursday, it was practice in the morning and a performance in the afternoon at the Mt Airy Volunteer Fire Company Parade. While it rained before the march, the water apparently didn’t affect the NMMA Cadets, who won an award as "Best Marching Non-Fire Department Unit".

It was back to Arlington in the morning for performances at various places in the Cemetary, most notably the Korean War Memorial and the CAP memorial. "We spent the day at Arlington, " Dan says. "We also listened to the Air Force Ceremonial Brass play for a funeral while we were there."

The next day was - finally! - a break and a tour of Washington D.C. And, of course, what CAP trip to D.C. would be complete without a visit to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum? "We didn’t have enough time at Air & Space," Dan notes. There never really is, is there?

The final three days of the activity were spent polishing their performances ("Major Carroll demanded perfection!", claims Dan), recording their CD at Bethesda, visiting Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and going to the awards banquet.

And at the end, what was Dan looking forward to? "Going home!"

No doubt!

When it was all said and done, Dan had a great time. "I particularly enjoyed playing with USAF band, " he says. "We met people from all over the country and all over the world; and actually recorded our own CD - I can’t wait to hear it!"

And what would he change? "We ate out a lot; the suggested money wasn’t enough. Plus, more time to tour the museums."

Would he attend it again? "Definitely YES! It was well worth the cost and lots of fun. LtCol Steinmeier and Major Carroll both put in a lot of work!"

There you have it, folks: Cadet Dan Nelson’s report on the National Military Music Academy for CadetStuff.org. This is one of the newest and least well-known activities available to Cadets. And, at two weeks, it’s one of the longest. However, based on Dan’s report, it rocks!

Or, rather, it SWINGS!