Photo by Alex McVeigh Command Sgt. Maj. Debra L. McGarity

Q: What is your background?
A: I was previously the Concert Band group leader, NCOIC and clarinetist for the U.S. Army Band Woodwind Quintet.

Q: What are your goals upon being promoted to command sergeant major of ‘‘Pershing’s Own?”
A: To take care of Soldiers and their Families, as well as continuing to uphold the traditions and standards that make Pershing’s Own one of the finest musical organizations in the world.

When I was the Concert Band leader, my focus was on that group, now my outlook is on the band as a whole. I deal with personnel issues, all the ensembles, as well as mission and Soldier-specific concerns.

In this wonderful organization, it’s important to treat people fairly and with dignity and respect.

I know I have to be prepared all the time, the band is constantly tasked with with many mission requirements and we always perform these missions with the highest standards of excellent.

I’m still hoping to keep playing with the Concert Band. It might be a struggle to balance everything, but as the senior enlisted Soldier, I’m going to try and do it on a regular basis.

I came into the band as a musician, and I still love to perform.

Q: What are you looking forward to?
A: I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the unit, which I’ve done before to a certain extent. But now I’m going to be out there, supporting them.

Another one of my goals is to get out and go to more performances of other groups, since I didn’t have that opportunity as much to listen to those groups.

We have amazing musicians, and I’m always in awe when they perform. Every element of the band performs at a superb level that’s the best I’ve heard since I’ve been in the band.

Almost everyone coming in to the band has either their bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in music, so there’s a very high level of talent across the board.

Q: How has the band changed since you joined?
A: The band is much busier. There are so many more commitments, and everyone stays very mission-focused.

Q: What do you think is so special about a unit like this?
A: We’re in a unique situation, we spend our entire career here, so we get to know people and their Families. It’s different than other units, since we’re not always PCSing, we’re kind of like a big Family.

Q: What is the difference between a Soldier in the Army band and a civilian musician?
A: With the Army, the benefits are excellent. We have health and dental care, and great educational benefits. The starting salary as an E-6 is pretty good compared to a civilian musician.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for musicians who love what they do to serve their country. We’ve performed for presidents, the Army chief of staff, the Pope and the Queen of England.

It’s such a unique job where you have the opportunity to perform for world leaders and to the public in Washington, D.C. and other areas. It’s always such a thrill to perform, I think music has its own way of bringing patriotism to the public.

Q: What’s your best memory of performing with the band?
A: I have some great memories, but there are always a few that stick out.

We perform with some local Arlington public school bands, and one we performed at was my son’s high school. Getting to share the stage with him, he’s a drummer, was such a proud moment.

A few weeks after 9⁄11, we went to ground zero and played for the workers who were still sifting through all the rubble. To be able to perform for those people, in the wreckage of the World Trade Center is something I’ll never forget.

Q: Where are you from originally?
A: Covington, Va. It’s a small town in southern Virginia. I think I’m more of a big city person though. I attended college in Winchester, Va., Shenandoah Conservatory. My classmates used to always talk about going into Washington, D.C. and auditioning for some of the military bands.

The Army band was looking for a clarinet at the time, and it was one of the most sought after bands, and my timing was perfect.

For a small-town girl, it’s been an amazing journey.

Q: As a musician, how did you handle the thought of going to basic training?
A: I was a little concerned, I just didn’t know what to expect. When I was speaking to the Soldiers in the band before I went, they told me they all went through it fine, but the not knowing was stressful.

Q: If you weren’t a member of the Army band, what would you be doing?
A: I went to college with the intention of teaching music. My degree is in music education as well as clarinet, and if I didn’t get in the Army band, I would have done that.

Band directors these days have a very important job, they are the ones who lay the foundation for children in music.

Q: What are your views on education?
A: I’m a firm supporter of education, it’s so important. We encourage the Soldiers here to always keep it up. If they don’t have a master’s, we encourage them to get it. Some Soldiers have their doctorates.

For us, our [military occupational specialty] is music, so we always encourage our folks to keep it up.

We have to keep our skill levels up, once you’re in the band and while you’re here. We have very high standards, so our musicians keep up their technique, and keep up their skills and talent.

Q: What would be your ideal way to spend a lazy Sunday?
A: Right now, it would be watching football. I’m a football nut.

Other than that, spending time with the Family. I’m here a lot during the week, so any time can get with my husband and children, we’ll find something to do together.

Q: How has your new position changed the way you look at the band?
A: This side is more administrative, there are different aspects to it. It’s important for me to represent the unit the best I can.

I had to go to pre-command school at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and I learned about leadership, taking care of Soldiers and Families during deployments, things like that.

There’s only four positions like mine in the Army: the West Point band, the U.S. Army Field Band, the U.S. Army School and Pershing’s Own are the only bands with command sergeants major.

The band world is a small one, so we all know each other, and we stay in touch, e-mail each other with questions, things like that.

I think it’s important for me to know about things outside of the world of the Army band, we’re all part of the same Army.

Q: Who do you credit with helping you on your journey?
A: [Outgoing] Command Sergeant Major Ross Morgan set an outstanding example for me to follow. I thanked him for the great job he did, and I’ll do my best to continue the great work he did.

Our commander, Colonel Thomas Rotondi Jr., has been giving me great advice, and I have such a great appreciation for the guidance he has given me for the last four-and-a-half years.

He’s an exceptional musician and he’s been an exceptional commander.

This band has such a rich legacy, and it means a great deal to me just to be a part of it. This position runs the whole gamut of responsibility, and there’s always something new to learn.