U.S. Army Band TEW 2025 - Who's Going?

[arpthark]

Can't speak to the other points, but I think you just need photo ID. You may have your car searched. I had a sousaphone bit in my seat looked at curiously when I last went which was (eek) 13 years ago.

[scottw]

I am seriously considering attending if at all possible. However, I am quite the babe in the woods about the arrangements. The last time I went was decades ago and I only went for the day. This time I would want to stay for the whole thing. So I have tons of questions.

1. Do you have to pre register? If so, how do you do that? I couldn’t find it on their web site.
2. Recommendations for motels nearby that are reasonably priced?
3. How difficult is it to get though the gates onto the base? What kind of documents do you need for security?

Please check your messages--I'm sending that information to you.

[ActuallyaEuphPlayer]

How competitive are the solo competitions they host and how many people usually play?

[scottw]

Can't speak to the other points, but I think you just need photo ID. You may have your car searched. I had a sousaphone bit in my seat looked at curiously when I last went which was (eek) 13 years ago.

A lot has changed in those 13 years! Now the security is much stronger. If you fill out the requisite forms [2] in advance and get there well before anything you really want to catch [We go Wednesday afternoon, get the paperwork done at the trailer]. After the initial stuff, it is much quicker any subsequent times you enter. Passport or ACCEPTED ID is needed. REAL ID is good and some states' [not all] picture drivers' license is also accepted, but you need to check on your state's progress toward REAL ID. For example: some years ago our late friend here, Paul Maybery, drove all the way in from Minnesota, met me in NJ, and we drove to Ft Myer. At the gate, Paul was informed that his picture ID from there was not accepted and he would not be admitted! That one took a lot of kind members of TUSAB to make that happen.
The government seems to make it as hard as possible to uncover forms needed, but here are the 2 you need to complete prior to arriving:
TUSAB-TEW—2025 forms
https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/2316/7509/8 ... 90-16x.pdf
This is the installation access request form.
Hope this helps!
Scottw
____________________________________________________________
https://pass.aie.army.mil/JBMHH/
This is the Automated Installation Entry (AIE) Visitor Website--this is submitted and they send back a temporary visitor pass good for the day requested--1-29-25.
When we go to the visitor sign-in trailer, we get a pass for all 4 days.
Do not submit this prior to January 15 [less than 15 days before arrival date]

[arpthark]

Can't speak to the other points, but I think you just need photo ID. You may have your car searched. I had a sousaphone bit in my seat looked at curiously when I last went which was (eek) 13 years ago.

A lot has changed in those 13 years! Now the security is much stronger. If you fill out the requisite forms [2] in advance and get there well before anything you really want to catch [We go Wednesday afternoon, get the paperwork done at the trailer]. After the initial stuff, it is much quicker any subsequent times you enter. Passport or ACCEPTED ID is needed. REAL ID is good and some states' [not all] picture drivers' license is also accepted, but you need to check on your state's progress toward REAL ID. For example: some years ago our late friend here, Paul Maybery, drove all the way in from Minnesota, met me in NJ, and we drove to Ft Myer. At the gate, Paul was informed that his picture ID from there was not accepted and he would not be admitted! That one took a lot of kind members of TUSAB to make that happen.
The government seems to make it as hard as possible to uncover forms needed, but here are the 2 you need to complete prior to arriving:
TUSAB-TEW—2025 forms
https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/2316/7509/8 ... 90-16x.pdf
This is the installation access request form.
Hope this helps!
Scottw
____________________________________________________________
https://pass.aie.army.mil/JBMHH/
This is the Automated Installation Entry (AIE) Visitor Website--this is submitted and they send back a temporary visitor pass good for the day requested--1-29-25.
When we go to the visitor sign-in trailer, we get a pass for all 4 days.
Do not submit this prior to January 15 [less than 15 days before arrival date]

Thanks, great info. Had no idea all this had changed. Back in 2011, little old me drove from Kentucky to D.C., alone through the mountains of West Virginia before GPS was on every mobile device, alone in my little stick shift Chevy S-10 and a set of written directions from MapQuest. I made it, and they let me in.

I wonder if they let you in with a valid DoD CAC, if you work for the military elsewhere.

[scottw]

Yep--and you use the express lane at Hatfield Gate!

[bloke]

Yep--and you use the express lane at Hatfield Gate!

...so they can make sure that you're the real McCoy.

[GrecoTrombone]

I am seriously considering attending if at all possible. However, I am quite the babe in the woods about the arrangements. The last time I went was decades ago and I only went for the day. This time I would want to stay for the whole thing. So I have tons of questions.

1. Do you have to pre register? If so, how do you do that? I couldn’t find it on their web site.
2. Recommendations for motels nearby that are reasonably priced?
3. How difficult is it to get though the gates onto the base? What kind of documents do you need for security?

You don't have to, but should! Here's a link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-tuba- ... tdtcreator

And here's a "get on base" link:

https://pass.aie.army.mil/jbmhh/

You should do both, not just one or the other. If you're only going to do one, do the "get on base" link.

Can't tell you about motels specifically, but there's plenty of lodging right around the base.

Not terribly difficult. If you preregister, that makes it a bit easier. Bring your photo ID for sure, but also be prepared to sit and wait for at most an hour. If you're registered and they check your car, you usually are set for the rest of the week and they'll direct you a different way to bypass. Not sure if that's changed.

[kingrob76]

I am seriously considering attending if at all possible. However, I am quite the babe in the woods about the arrangements. The last time I went was decades ago and I only went for the day. This time I would want to stay for the whole thing. So I have tons of questions.

1. Do you have to pre register? If so, how do you do that? I couldn’t find it on their web site.
2. Recommendations for motels nearby that are reasonably priced?
3. How difficult is it to get though the gates onto the base? What kind of documents do you need for security?

You don't have to, but should! Here's a link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-tuba- ... tdtcreator

And here's a "get on base" link:

https://pass.aie.army.mil/jbmhh/

You should do both, not just one or the other. If you're only going to do one, do the "get on base" link.

Can't tell you about motels specifically, but there's plenty of lodging right around the base.

Not terribly difficult. If you preregister, that makes it a bit easier. Bring your photo ID for sure, but also be prepared to sit and wait for at most an hour. If you're registered and they check your car, you usually are set for the rest of the week and they'll direct you a different way to bypass. Not sure if that's changed.

The Visitor Center will be CLOSED this weekend.

VERY VERY STRONGLY encourage anyone going to click on the links and complete both. You can get a Visitor Pass via email that will get you on Post. Otherwise, you MAY be out of luck.

[scottw]

By "Visitor Center", you don't mean the trailer where we have to pick up the permanent pass for the 4 days, do you? And, why?

[scottw]

We got here at 2.30 pm. The visitors trailer is closed due to a broken water line, and has been for 2 weeks.Therefore, we waited almost a hour to go 200 feet and the MP to ask his sergeant what to do with us. We told him there will be a couple hundred like us and he quickly got on the radio for guidance. Eventually, we got on with the 1day pass we received via email. Do not leave home without it!
We spoke with Jeremy MBride, who is running the workshop this year.He was going to go down and try to figure things out with the MPs and police so tomorrow won't be complete chaos. Arrive early!
We're going back tonight for the concert. Hopefully an easier time of it?
Scott

[Yahnay-san]

Breezed right through tonight with my pre-approved pass, thanks for clearing the way!

[PlayTheTuba]

I certainly am/already their!

The pre-approvad pass at the gate was quite fast for me too!

But I am sure I won't probably talk to many peeps.

Working in retail forces one to be more "outgoing," But, I am still too shy (it does have it's perks though!).

[eeferman]

Apparently nothing is being live-streamed this year? Will any videos be made available later?

[graybach]

From their website:

“There will be no livestreams for this year’s workshop, but the full performances will be posted on our YouTube channel shortly after. Check here for release dates.”

This is the page I saw it on:

https://usarmyband.com/workshops

[Three Valves]

I was in the elephant room this afternoon.

Is it too early to say I liked the place they were in last year better?

[GrecoTrombone]

Spates is fine. The only reason I ended up liking it was because we were half in the hallway - great for sales. But I thought it was a bit too cramped... Though, this year was a wee bit cramped too.