Life in the RM Band Service

As a Royal Marines Bugler:

As a Royal Marines Bugler you will be part of the Corps of Drums, leading the bands on parade. You will spend two years at the Royal Marines School of Music studying the Bb Bugle, Eb Herald Trumpet and the Military Side Drum.

As a Director of Music:

All Officers within the Royal Marines Band Service are selected from the ranks and have to pass all the relevant courses and exams to gain promotion - there is no direct entry for officers within the Royal Marines Bands Service. All of our Musicians and Buglers start at the Royal Marines School of Music and have the opportunity to progress through the Ranks.

Your career:

A Career in the Royal Marines Band Service will be full of challenges and rewards. One day you could be playing at a state occasion – the next day you could be launching a new cruise liner. The variety of work is just one of the high points of the job. We are probably best known for our major ceremonial marching displays, but this is just a small part of what we do - we provide Symphony Orchestras, Concert Wind Bands, Big Bands, small combinations, Corps of drums displays, the list is endless! It’s at this point you realise why we undertake such an intense training package. Including the men and women under training the Royal Marines Band Service Consists of approximately 420 ranks and today’s Royal Marines Band Service is a unique blend of musicianship, talent and tradition that is steeped in history.  Once you have completed your training at the Royal Marines School of Music, you will join one of the five Royal Marines Bands:

1. RM Band Portsmouth (Royal Band)
2. RM Band Collingwood
3. RM Band Plymouth
4. RM Band Commando Training Centre Lympstone
5. RM Band Scotland

The Royal Marines Band Service is known as one of the finest military musical organisations in the world – so why not be part of it?