Jay, with all the other options available it does seem rather strange to take a recruit out of basic training (boot camp) just to bang a drum or blow a bugle, even if it did include steak, beer, and pretty ladies!
Going somewhat off-topic but sort of on the same topic...
Today (10th Sept) in Edinburgh was the 2023 'The Riding of the Marches'...
Riding the marches in Scotland c.1500-1996https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/21633[Don't ask why it says -1996, i don't know, probably because the article has never been updated since publication?]Anyway, my point is this procession was led by an Edinburgh school pipe band (at least one other equally good school band was involved, i'm a toenail, don't ask lol) and even i have to admit they did a damn good job without the need for an adult pipe band so why would a college football team at thanksgiving need a band from the military when they probably have a perfectly good college band anyway?
George Watson's Pipe Band Leading 2023 Riding of The Marches From Kings Parkhttps://youtu.be/8hsbbH-S-o0?si=d7QWTPhUUcM0Rxy8The ceremony when they get to the Mercat Cross (aka Market Cross) can be watched here, but be aware the audio is not the best (though for the most part it is legible if you are able to understand the local dialect) and its the best i've been able to find, it should also be noted the riding has not been fully commercialised by anyone yet
(thankfully) so there is no TV coverage or official source... afaict the only video coverage that is available is from those on the ground at the time so all credit goes to them.
Edinburgh - The Riding of The Marches 2023https://youtu.be/EJbYqtJlnos?si=JDuK6g5WvyulOb1DAs a completely off-topic aside, i cannot get used to some things of this change of monarch, i.e for all my 59 years of life the Queens Park was the Queens Park, this is the first time i've ever seen it referred to as the Kings Park and for some reason i don't like it... i totally get things like HMS changing from Her Majesty's Ship to His Majesty's Ship, but for me that park is and will always be the Queens Park.