FRIDAY FOTO (October 15, 2021)

Dress (Rhythm and) Blues.

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Erin Morejon) Click on the photo to enlarge the image.

Well this is something you don’t see every day.

This photo shows Marines with the Parris Island Marine Band in their dress blue uniforms playing electric and bass guitars at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

Portraits of band members were being taken for recruiting photos April 10, 2021 to support the Musicians Enlistment Option Program.

Instrumentalists and vocalists who want to join the Marines can put their musical talents to work through the Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP). Performing throughout the continental United States and internationally, Marine musicians serve as musical ambassadors of the Marine Corps. For the record, the Marine Corps has 10 bands based around the world.

To qualify for the MEOP, recruits must first audition and qualify for the music program. Every MEOP recruit attends the Corps’ 13-week recruit training and, upon graduation, attends the Naval School of Music for advanced instrumental and academic training. Check it out here. There’s also a cool musician/recruiting video, here.