Band, Honor Guard & Drill Team

Our History

The Band, Honor Guard, and Chorus were one of the first organized cadet groups on campus followed by the Drill Team, even predating Athletics at the Academy. The Honor Guard served in the Academy's observances of morning colors prior to the band addition in May of 1945. The Band, Honor Guard and Drill Team functioned as three separate units until March of 2007 when 7th Company was established. The band first functioned as a Jazz and Dance Band in the early 1940s, then moved to do field band activities for Academy formations and ceremonies.

Founded by John G. Miles, MMA '47

The first songs the band played at the first formation in 1945

The band is 2012 commissioned music to be written to the words penned by Jake Daly'16  entitled "Onward to Victory" which is the Academy's unofficial fight song.  

The Pride of the Regiment

Band, Honor Guard & Drill Team


The Academy has an opportunity for community service  whether it be in Honor Guard, on the Drill Team, or participating in the Band. You can find a home in "The Pride of the Regiment".

Be Recruited   Contact Us   Hire Us


Massachusetts Maritime Academy‘s Regimental Band, Honor Guard and Drill Team is a highly involved unit on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy campus and in the surrounding community. "The Pride of the Regiment"  has performed at events, concerts, and parades during the academic year.  "The Pride of the Regiment" has traveled over forty-two hundred miles annually and has performed in several nationally recognized events from Plymouth, Boston and Holyoke Massachusetts to Washington District of Columbia, Newport and Providence (RI) and New York City. "The Pride of the Regiment" averages 50 engagements a year, not including Academy on campus formations and ceremonies. 

"The Pride of the Regiment"  personnel are passionate volunteers and take pride in representing themselves, the regiment of cadets and the academy in a professional and honorable manner. "The Pride of the Regiment" is built on an axiom of service to the Academy, our community and the country whenever called upon. 

 

7th Company's mission is to provide music, military customs and tradition to enhance the regiment of cadets' cohesion and morale.  7th Company promotes the Massachusetts Maritime Academy mission by showcasing "Leadership, Discipline, Knowledge" through music, drill and ceremony performance at public and academy venues to recruit, retain and inspire the regiment of cadet.

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy's "Regimental Band, Honor Guard and Drill Team", "7th Company"  is a vital part of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 7th Company is the most highly visible, audible and disciplined representative of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's regiment of cadets. 7th Company purpose is to be strong ambassadors of America, the academy and the US Maritime Industry.

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Drill Team is a precision drill platoon. Their primary mission is showcasing the discipline of Massachusetts Maritime Academy both regionally and nationally through solid routines displaying "discipline, knowledge and leadership" with the general issued M1 Garand rifles.

ALPHA PLATOON

"Alpha Platoon" is the Academy's elite exhibition drill unit that exemplifies discipline, precision and skill. Members of "Alpha Platoon" are selected out of the Drill Team unit after a semester of mastering the basics of regulation drill and showing promise and dedication to represent the Academy on the highest level. Through focused and intense practice, "Alpha Platoon" members learn to perform precise rifle drill movements flawlessly for audiences across the region in competitions and on parade — with or without few verbal commands. 

drill team marching

 

Since the Academy's earliest years, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Regimental Honor Guard has led the way as representatives of all  Maritime Academies and its graduates serving around the world. The men and women of the Honor Guard represent every member of the regiment of cadets, including past, present, and future. Now, as the Academy's oldest organization, even predating the Academy's introduction of athletics, the Honor Guard continues to serve the Presidents of the Academy. It is the face of the Academy regionally and nationwide. Honor Guardsmen are volunteers and are the best of the regiment. The Honor Guard prides itself as the standard for discipline and military professionalism. 

honor guard performing on field

REGIMENTAL ​FIELD & CONCERT ​BAND 

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Regimental Band & Chorus is the Academy's premier musical organization. ​The organization includes annually about ​forty musicians, led by four cadet staff officers. The Academy's Ceremonial Field Band performs music at the Academy and other special events. ​The band also serves as a concert band that performs concerts biannually each year.

"FIRST WATCH": JAZZ & CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE

The Academy's first Band! "First Watch" The Academy’s premier jazz and contemporary ensemble, have been performing the finest of big band music for The Academy and regional audiences for over 60 years. Formed in 1942, this ​typically ​15-member group continues the jazz big band, dance band, traditions coupled with the contemporary sounds of today with some of the finest cadet musicians in the maritime world.

​CHAMBER CHORUS

The vocal ensemble performs a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including sea chanteys and patriotic songs, to opera, Broadway, and contemporary music of today.​ This ensemble performs for the public throughout the region​ and biannually at the Academy's concerts. ​ 

 

2023
  • Alexander Hall '26 and Bridget Ruiz '24 selected to performed in the CBDNA Intercollegiate Honors Band at University of Georgia 
  • Master's Award, (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2022)
  • Selected to perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
2022
  • Selected to perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Master's Award, (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2022)
  • Firefighting Award (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2022)
  • Selected to perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
2021
  • Selected to perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
  • Awarded second-place finish by Nicholas Costa, IMB '23 (Norwich, CT) in IDR (Individual Drill), and a second-place finish by Evangeline Gosselin, MSSP'24 (North
    Andover, MA) in the 5K race. Receiving an honorable mention with a fourth-place finish in IDR was William Rivera, MSSP'23 (Oxford, MA) at Cornell University's NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
  • Selected to perform at New England Patriots vs. NY Buffalo Bills (12/26) home game at Gillette Stadium
2020
  • Selected to perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
2019
  • Drum Major/Bassist Dominic Vaccari '20 performed in the CBDNA Intercollegiate Honors Band at Arizona State University
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Honor Company (Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2019) 
  • Commandant's Intramural Cup (Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2019) 
  • Awarded 3rd Place in Two-Man Exhibition Drill (  Jacob Fernandes '23 of Coventry, RI & Nicholas Costa '23 of Norwich, CT ) at Cornell University's NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
  • Selected to Perform in New York City's Veterans' Day Parade   
2018
  • Honor Company (Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2018) 
  • Selected to Perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to Perform in Nashville, TN- " Music City", "Christmas Parade"
  • Master's Award, (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2018) 
2017
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • 3rd Place Award at Villanova University Drill/MEC Competition, Tactical Assault/Simulated Marksmanship Course
  • Admiral's Cup Award, 1st Place Drill (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2017) 
2016
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to Perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
2015
  • Selected to Perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Awarded 3rd Place in Platoon Exhibition Drill at Cornell University's NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
  • Awarded 3rd Place in Two-Man Exhibition Drill ( Matt White '17 & Chris White '17 of Taunton, MA ) at Cornell University's NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
2014
  • Trustees Award (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2014)
  • Awarded "Best Marching Unit" at Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade 
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Awarded "Honor Company" - Massachusetts Maritime Academy Regiment of Cadets 
  • Awarded 2nd Place "Color Guard" at Cornell University's  NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition 
  • Awarded 2nd Place Platoon Exhibition at Cornell University's  NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
2013
  • Selected to Perform at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (Orlando,FL)
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Awarded "Best Marching Band" at Roslindale Day Parade
  • "First Watch Jazz Band" performed with country and southern gospel singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin in April at the Petroleum Club (Houston, TX)
2012
  • Award 3rd Place "Color Guard" at Cornell University NROTC Drill & Military Excellence Competition
2011
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Selected to Perform in New York City Veterans' Day Parade
2010
  • Best Marching Unit (Holyoke St. Patrick Day Parade) 
  • Selected to Perform in Washington D.C. "National Memorial Day Parade"
  • Commandant Award (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2010) 
2009
  • Firefighting Award (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2009) 
2008
  • Admiral's Cup Award, 1st Place Drill (Massachusetts Maritime Academy Orientation 2008) 

  • 7th Company receives hundreds of requests to perform annually, you can see 7th Company at events across the Commonwealth and New England.

  • 7th Company has received many parade honors, performing annually at National events in Washington D.C. and New York City have been program staples for over a decade.

  • The Honor Guard has presented the National Colors for pregame ceremonies for every major New England professional sports team from The Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox, Boston Revolution, the Boston Celtics, and the New England Patriots.

  • 7th Company ( the combined units of the Band, Honor Guard, and Drill Team under a single command and barracks) was the brainchild of Academy President, Rear Admiral Richard Gurnon (2005-2015).

  • 7th Company is the only known collegiate organization in the world of its type, having all specialty units under one command and barracks together.

  • 7th Company was bestowed the name of "the Pride of the Regiment" by Rear Admiral Richard Gurnon in his retirement farewell address in 2015.

  • The Band, Chorus, and the Honor Guard are among the oldest student organizations at the Academy. Even predating the Academy's establishment of athletics in 1947.

  • Approximately 150 members annually of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Regiment of Cadets comprise the combined units of 7th Company - "The Pride of the Regiment".