Music teacher serves in 312th Army Reserve band in Lawrence

Sergeant Katie Sperry always wanted to join the U.S. Army Reserves.  She did not join after high school but attended Fort Hays State University earning an undergraduate degree in music education.  Sperry joined the Reserves in June 2009 to become a cargo specialist a military occupation specialty called 88H (hotel).  Sperry attended basic combat training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Va.  Upon completion of training she was assigned to the 589th Transportation Detachment in Topeka, Kan. 

She deployed to Kuwait in 2010 to 2011 with the 589^th and during the deployment cross-trained into another Army job of 88N (November) transportation management coordinator. She attended the Warrior Leadership Course in Kuwait and pinned on Sergeant’s stripes.

Sperry returned to Topeka and transferred to the 312^th Army Band in Lawrence, Kan. Being an Army musician requires a live audition, training at the U.S. Army School of Music in Norfolk, Va., and then earning the military occupation specialty 42R (Romeo) musician.  The school of music was a good time for Sperry, “I love to play the Clarinet and hangout with musicians-hang out with Soldiers”.

What is a typical drill weekend for an Army musician? She said, the Soldiers perform physical fitness, practice for performances, hone Soldier tasks, fire weapons at ranges on Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and she is the unit’s music librarian.  She enjoys being tasked to play for civic events. One of her most memorable performances was in San Antonio, Texas for a Naturalization ceremony. Sperry commented, “How awesome it was to play for a future citizen while serving in the Army protecting our country”. Her civilian interests are a demonstration of the duties as an Army Reserve Soldier.

Sperry has been a music teacher for 10 years and plans to improve the growth of music education in Kansas. To grasp the knowledge of music as a business and a career she earned her Masters of Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan University utilizing the Army Reserve Student Loan Repayment Program.  

Sperry has a dual track career: the Reserves and as a music teacher. Her professional goal is to be the best Soldier she can be either as a Sergeant or getting a commission to be an officer.  She really enjoys the Reserves and her husband is a Reserve Soldier in Topeka. This Army family has over 10 years of service and looks forward to continued service

Visit the SGT Sperry at the 312^th Army Band in Lawrence, Kan., and learn how to become an Army musician.

Army Strong!