Staff Sgt. Milburn is with the U.S. Army Field Band. The 23-year-old soldier recently returned to D.C. after serving a year in Baghdad, Iraq.
Where are you from and how did you get to D.C.?
I’m from Devers, Texas, and over the past five years of various military assignments decided to interview for a position at the U.S. Army Field Band.
What was it like growing up in Devers compared to where you are now?
Devers is a small village of 400 people located less than an hour away from southern Louisiana. It’s very rural, rains all year long, and the definition of a traffic jam there is a tractor that’s broken down on the only highway that cuts through the village. Though it’s far in “the sticks,” I miss living in Texas but am slowly becoming accustomed to the Washington area.
Why did you join the military?
I joined the U.S. Army to do what I want to do: work as a musician and also serve my country.
What did you do in Iraq?
I performed as a clarinetist in troop morale performances and military ceremonies, [and] also worked as an operations sergeant to ensure all the logistics behind the performances went smoothly.
What’s it like over there?
Two words: Scorching hot.
What’s next up for you?
Now that I’ve settled into the area, I would like to continue distance education through the University of Maryland University College and also begin volunteer work for the local area. – Scott McCabe
