U.S. NAVY CWO BANDMASTER HARD SHOULDER BOARDS

It has been many years since a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Bandmaster designator has been available for Sailors in the Musician (MU) rating, and it seems to have been replaced by the Limited Duty Office (LDO) designator alone. But while there is no way for Sailors who are currently serving to become CWO Bandmaster, the legacies of earlier enlisted Musicians who earned their CWO commissions are still quite inspiring.

Perhaps no CWO Bandmaster’s career can rival that of William J. “Joe” Phillips. The North Carolinian enlisted in the Navy as a trombonist in 1957, attending the Navy School of Music at Naval Station Anacostia and then serving in Navy band both ashore and at sea. Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1964, he was selected as a Warrant Officer three years later; in 1968 he chosen to lead the Commander in Chief Atlantic Band. The following year he was promoted to CWO2 and soon thereafter was commissioned as an Ensign, reporting to Annapolis to serve as the Assistant Leader of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. By March, 1972, he was appointed leader of the band.

Phillips overhauled the Academy Band by introducing themed concerts featuring scripts and narration, turning a regular concert into something more akin to an “experience.” New arrangements to classics and standards were written to accommodate the presentations, which now featured vocalists.

Phillips stepped down from the conductor’s platform at the Naval Academy in 1975, but in 1978 he took on an even more prestigious assignment as the Commanding Officer of the Navy Band in Washington D.C., a position he held until 1984. But this would not be his last hurrah in Navy Music: In, April, 1992, Phillips once again took the helm as the CO of the Navy Band. Besides being the only person to be honored with the job on two different occasions, the move—in conjunction with the 1985 removal of the “O5 Cap” for Limited Duty Officers—allowed Phillips to be promoted to Captain, making him the first Music officer to ever achieve that rank.

Important: Due to the extremely low demand on this item, it is manufactured to order. While we might have some in stock, please allow for up to 10 business days processing time.

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Rank

Size

Price

$70.79

Quantity

USPHS

Merchant Marine

AUXILIARY

U.S. NAVY CWO BANDMASTER HARD SHOULDER BOARDS