Commandant
|
CSM Daniel P. Welch
Commandant
|
|
CSM Welch was born in Almeria, Spain and grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia area. CSM Welch enlisted in the U.S. Army in November of 2001, completing Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at the U.S. Army School of Music at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. His previous duty assignments include the 36th Army Band, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; the United States Army Europe Band and Chorus, Heidelberg, Germany; the 1st Armored Division Band, Wiesbaden, Germany; the United States Army Japan Band, Camp Zama, Japan; the 8th Army Band, Yongsan, South Korea; as First Sergeant at the 282d Army Band, Fort Jackson, South Carolina and the United States Army Japan Band. His most recent assignment was as Band Sergeant Major for the 1st Cavalry Division Band, Fort Cavazos, Texas. In 2010, as part of the 1st AD Band, CSM Welch deployed to Camp Liberty, Iraq for 12-months in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.
CSM Welch’s military education includes the Basic Leader Course, where he was the Distinguished Honor Graduate, along with the Advanced and Senior Leader Courses, Safety Officer Course, Master Resiliency Trainer Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, and Battalion Pre-Command Course. CSM Welch is a Commandant's List graduate of Sergeant Major Course Class 72 at the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence, Fort Bliss Texas.
CSM Welch’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (6th award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (9th Award), Meritorious Unit Citation, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Additionally, he has earned both the German Marksmanship (Bronze) and Physical Fitness (Gold) Badges. CSM Welch has led his music performance teams to win two Army-level awards in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, he was named Army Music’s Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. CSM Welch was also inducted into Camp Zama’s “Ichi Dan” Chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in 2014.
CSM Welch holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Berry College in Rome, Georgia, and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. He is an avid runner, having completed 21 full and ultra-marathons, including the 2017 JFK 50-mile in Boonsboro, Maryland. CSM Welch is married to Ms. Elyse Welch, of Seoul, South Korea.
Deputy Commandant
|
MSG Phillip Andrew
Deputy Commandant
|
|
MSG Andrew grew up in the small town of Andover Connecticut. He joined the Army as a 42R in July of 2002 and during his service, earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He served with the 434th Army Band at Fort Gordon, Georgia; The 3rd Infantry Division Band at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Two tours with the 283rd Army Band at Fort Moore, Georgia; The U.S. Army Japan Band at Camp Zama, Japan; The 98th Army Band at Fort Novosel, Alabama; The 8th Army Band in Seoul, South Korea; The 56th Army Band at JBLM, Washington; As a SLC SGL at the USASOM at JEBLC-FS, Virginia; and most recently as the 1SG for the 10th Mountain Division Band at Fort Drum, New York. MSG Andrew is married to Debi Andrew and has two children, of which he is very proud.
SLC Small Group Leader
|
SFC Mara Snowman
SLC Small Group Leader
|
|
SFC Mara Snowman is a euphonium player originally from Bucksport, Maine. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, and enlisted in the army in 2012. SFC Snowman’s duty assignments include the United States Army Japan Band (Camp Zama, Japan), the Army Materiel Command Band (Redstone Arsenal, AL), 399th Army Band (Fort Leonard Wood, MO), and the 56th Army Band (Fort Lewis, WA). She is currently stationed at the US Army School of Music (Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, VA) where she serves as Senior Leader Course Small Group Leader. SFC Snowman is married to SFC Rob Manning, and they have two beautiful children. She enjoys hiking, camping, and being outside with her family.
SLC Small Group Leader
|
SFC Leanne Raley
SLC Small Group Leader
|
|
SFC Leanne Raley is a flute player originally from Arlington, Texas. She enlisted in the Army in 2003 and has since been stationed at the 56th Army Band (Fort Lewis, Washington), the 2d Infantry Division Band (Camp Red Cloud, Korea), the 1st Cavalry Division Band (Fort Cavazos, Texas), the Army Materiel Command Band (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland), the 8th Army Band (Seoul, Korea), the 77th Army Band (Fort Sill, Oklahoma), the 323d Army Band (Fort Sam Houston, Texas), and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Band (Fort Eustis, Virginia). SFC Raley's civilian education includes an AS in Mathematics, a BS in Accounting, and an MS in Accounting (Taxation). In her spare time, SFC Raley enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and dog. She also enjoys lifting weights, running, and drinking coffee.
SLC Small Group Leader
|
SFC Clint Valnes
SLC Small Group Leader
|
|
SFC Clint C. Valnes, from Sisseton, South Dakota, enlisted in the Army in 2008 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC. He attended Advanced Individual Training at the US Army School of Music, and upon graduation was awarded the MOS 42R9E, Trombone Player.
His duty assignments include: 82nd Airborne Division Band, Ft. Bragg NC; 1st Corps Band, Joint Base Lewis McChord WA; 77th Army Band Ft. Sill, OK; 1st Corps Band, Joint Base Lewis McChord WA; 399th Army Band Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He is currently stationed at the US Army School of Music NCO Academy, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, where he serves as a Senior Leader Course Small Group Leader.
SFC Valnes’ military education includes the Common Faculty Development – Instructor Course, Cadre Training Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Senior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Bus Driver's Course, and Basic Leader Course.
SFC Valnes has toured the nation with multiple Army ensembles as well as serving 13 months in Afghanistan from 2009-2010 with the 82nd Airborne Division Band. He currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his wife, Candice, of 15 years, and their 11-year-old son, Eric.
ALC Small Group Leader
|
SSG Lance Boston
ALC Small Group Leader
|
|
SSG Lance Boston is from Pineville, Louisiana. He is a clarinetist (9J) and holds a secondary ASI as a saxophonist (9L). He enlisted into the Army in 2016 and has been stationed at the 399th Army band (Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri), United States Army Japan Band (Camp Zama, Japan), and is currently serving at the US Army School of Music (Virginia Beach, Virginia) as an Advanced Leader Course Small Group Leader.
SSG Boston holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Music Education from University of Southeastern Oklahoma. His military training education includes Master Resilience Training, Advance Leader Course, Basic Leader Course, Field Sanitation, and Combat Life Saver Training.
His hobbies are skateboarding, fishing, and woodworking. He also enjoys spending time with his family.
ALC Small Group Leader
|
SSG Robert Chambers
ALC Small Group Leader
|
|
SSG Charles Robert Chambers was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia and received a Bachelor of Business Administration – Management and a Minor in Music from the University of Georgia. After enlisting in the Army in 2017, he served with the 1st Infantry Division Band (Ft. Riley, Kansas), the USAREUR-AF Band and Chorus (Sembach, Germany), and the US Army School of Music (Virginia Beach, Virginia), where he currently serves as Advanced Leader Course Small Group Leader.
SSG Chambers’ military education includes the USASOM Common Faculty Development – Instructor Course, Air Assault Course, Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, and Combat Lifesaver Course. Aside from practicing and performing on his primary ASI (9B – Trumpet), SSG Chambers enjoys various outdoor activities (running, hiking, camping), traveling, lifting weights, watching movies, and reading.
ALC Small Group Leader
|
SSG Andrei Osipov
ALC Small Group Leader
|
|
SSG Andrei Osipov is originally from Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. He moved to United States in 2013, enlisted in the US Army in 2014 from Charlotte, NC and attended Basic Combat Training in Fort Jackson, SC. He attended Advanced Individual Training at the US Army School of Music, and upon graduation was awarded the MOS 42R9T, Guitar Player.
His duty assignments include 1st Infantry Division Band, Fort Riley, KS (first tour), with one combat deployment to Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Eighth US Army Band, Pyeongtaek, South Korea, and 1st Infantry Division Band, Fort Riley, KS (second tour) with an operational deployment in support of Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine, Grafenwöhr, Germany where he served as a linguist and linguist section Platoon Sergeant in support of training of Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is currently stationed at the US Army School of Music NCO Academy, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, where he serves as Advanced Leader Course Small Group Leader.
SSG Osipov’s military education includes Senior Leader Course (CL), DA Retention Training, Field Sanitation, Advanced Leader Course (DHG), Unit Movement Officer, TC-AIMS, Ammo Handler, Unit Armorer, Combatives Level 1, Basic Leader Course (CL).
SSG Osipov is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in music production. SSG Osipov is fluent in Russian language and has advanced knowledge of Ukrainian and Romanian languages.