Getting into the U.S. Marine band is not easy.

But Warsaw Community High School senior Ashley Wireman, 18, who plays the trombone, has done just that.

Wireman enlisted in the Marines and auditioned to become a member of the Marine band. She was accepted, but, because there are 15 Marine bands, she doesn't know yet which band she will play with, said WCHS band director Mickey Ratliff.

"To be accepted into the Marine band is a great honor and great career opportunity," said Ratliff. "I know it's very difficult to get in."

"I do know I took the last spot for our region," said Wireman.

People who become members of a military band remain until they retire, which is about 20 years, Ratliff said. While in the Marine band, Wireman can have her schooling paid for and can receive benefits both during her years of service and after retirement.

"You get to play music, which is your job," said Ratliff. When Wireman does decide to retire, Ratliff said, she still will be young enough to go into another career if she chooses. Usually, he said, when a spot in the band opens up, it's because someone else retired.

"There's very little turnover," he said.

Asked why she decided on the Marines, Wireman said, "I was looking at a lot of colleges, and the main thing I noticed was that I was looking at quality of the bands."

Last fall, she just happened to see a flier about the U.S. Marine band, and it sparked an interest. As she read more about the band, she said, she discovered the band is the best in the country.

She also decided she wanted to serve the country, too.

"I like what I see in it - the confidence our military has. The respect they really deserve, what they did for our country," she said. "I really don't mind giving back to them."

When Wireman's parents - Greg and Sandra - first found out, she said, they were a little shocked. Then in June, when her father had to sign the papers, she said, he was a little hesitant to do so. She said he thought she was rushing the idea, but she told them even if she had to wait, joining the Marines is what she wants to do.

Though joining the Marines didn't take an audition, getting into the band did. Wireman said she had to try out with a musician specialist.

"It was a little scary at first," she said, but after she warmed up, she got better. The man who auditioned her, she said, was very friendly.

"The hard part was having to know all the scales. He picked randomly which ones he wanted to hear," Wireman said.

Wireman will ship out to boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., June 7. After that, she said, she goes to combat training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. After that, she's off to music school in Virginia Beach, Va.

Until it's time to go, Wireman said, she'll enjoy her last year in high school.

"It's kind of going slow," she said, "but I like it that way."

And she thanked those who helped her get to this point.

"I like to thank all the band directors here at Warsaw and Ms. Persons at the middle school," she said. "They do a good job of teaching us how to play our instruments and getting us excited about playing music." [[In-content Ad]]