In 1986 I attended the Army School of Music or – as we affectionately called it – The Pool of Mucus. It was a great time for me, although it was also a very busy time. I started school in October 1986, was married in December of 1986, and was determined to “advance out”, to finish early and go to my first band assignment at Fort Lee, Virginia. I did advance out in mid-February of 1987.
Recently I was visiting my in-laws in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and went to the Little Creek Naval Amphibious base for an early morning run and for the memories.
I actually “grew up” right outside NAB Little Creek. My step father was in the navy and we lived in housing. There was a time when a gate led right onto base – you didn’t have to show an id or anything. Those days are gone. Here’s a picture of where I lived from 1982-1986.
I knew every nook and cranny of that base – at least within a couple of miles of the housing. I spent many hours in the BX, at the putt-putt course, in the movie theater, at the McDonalds – all before I ever joined the Army. I often went by the dining facility and could smell bacon and eggs cooking, not realizing one day I would get to eat there myself. Here’s a picture of the place.
After I joined the army and actually ate there, I realized the smells were better than the tastes (although the food was actually decent). Navy mess halls are split by rank. There’s an E-1 to E-3 area, E-4 to E-6, and a CPO (Chief Petty Officer) section. After many years, I returned to the SOM for an advanced course and got to eat in the CPO section. It was the same food, but with tablecloths on the tables.
The main action we saw as students was in Building 3602, a three story building full of classrooms and rehearsal areas. I never went to a “normal” music college. I enjoyed my time at the SOM. Many music college graduates did not like the way the Army taught theory and counting, but I now wonder if it’s just because it was not the way they were used to. I was fine with their methods. The day was full of theory, ear-training, ensemble rehearsal, and marching band. Most of what I know now and what I still use as a musician came from what I learned at the SOM. A few unusual memories…
- The great antique instrument showcase the navy had on display on the first floor.
- The cockroaches – specifically the ones that lived/worked/ate in the coffee machine on the first floor. I never was desperate enough to get a cup of joe from that machine
- The endless “chits” you had to put in for any request. I don’t know if that stood for something, but it was a form the navy used for almost all requests.
Some pictures of the main building…
Across the street was a bowling alley and Jimmy’s Pizza, where we often hung out if we had some free time in the evenings after individual practice. Jimmy’s is no more.
Although I never lived there, Shields Hall holds many memories. Most of those memories are not good.I escaped having to live there through a loophole – since I lived less than a mile away AND I was getting married a few months after I started, I put in a “chit” to request to live off-base with my parents and avoid the barracks. It was approved.
When I was at the SOM, we had drill sergeants assigned to us. The grass in front of Shields was where we did about 1,000 sit-ups and push-ups a day – all the way to total muscle failure. Every. Single. Day. Sidenote about Shields Hall. At one point, there were beer vending machines in the day room.
(outside of Shields Hall)
After total muscle failure, we would embark on a run in the humidity of Norfolk, Virginia, in the summer, in the afternoon! Our run often took us by the golf club.
(picture of the golf club – it hasn’t changed much)
I remember when my main goal in life was to land a job at the club. My mom told me the tips were great. I applied and visited the HR people many times but was never hired. Probably because I was too young to serve alcohol.
Sometimes our route also took us by the CPO Club. It looks as though it has not changed much. As a kid, this was forbidden territory! It was for adults. Even when I became an adult, it was still forbidden. I was only an E-4 when I went to my first course at the SOM. I was an E-6 when I returned for my 2nd course (BNCOC in the army). It was still forbidden… you had to be an E-7 to enter. What magical things happened on the other side of those doors? What great experiences were to be had in those closed areas? What delights awaited those privileged enough to enter? I got to find out when I attended ANCOC (the advanced course) and was finally privileged enough to enter.
I went one night with anticipation of what awaited me. I swung open the door and entered. What did I find? A dark, skanky, greasy bar area that I had no desire to spend time at! It was over 20 years of anticipation for nothing!
(outside of the CPO club)
Finally our run took us to the private beach area on NAB Little Creek. This area contained many memories. In the past, there was a huge covered picnic area that could hold groups of a hundred or more. There was a snack bar that mom worked at. My sister and I would spend the day at the beach. We could go anytime we wanted to get an ice-cream cone at the snack bar at no cost to us – and probably illegally. Mom gave us money to pay, but when we tried to pay, whoever was working the register would say, “Your mom told me she’s paying me later,” and scoot us away. That’s how all the kids of the snack bar employees were treated.
(this is where the huge pavilion used to be)
On another morning, I ran along the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Here are a couple of pictures:
Midway through my time at the Pool of Mucus, I married my bride, my HS sweetheart, my best friend. We celebrated 38 years last month. We spent our honeymoon at the New Cavalier hotel, which has since been torn down. The picture below is of the historic Cavalier, which is still standing. I was SO excited because our honeymoon suite included a free continental breakfast. Doesn’t that sound like a big breakfast? I was saddened to find out it meant a croissant and juice. That’s not breakfast. That’s a snack.
I received a great music education from the SOM. Here I am 38 years later working full time in the same career I started back in 1986. I feel blessed. Many people tolerate their jobs for the check. I love what I do!
James retired from the Army Band in 2006. He retired from full time teaching in 2023, but he is in no way “retired.” James continues to teach half time at a charter school. He spends the rest of his time performing, creating curriculum like www.jazzfromthestart.com and sharing the speaking stage with Billy Bob Joe, his 105 year old saxophone. Together they help you realize that – although you may be scratched, dented, and abused – like Billy Bob – God can still use you to play a beautiful symphony to the world. Find out more at www.jamesdivine.net.