Warrant Officer 2 Corps Bugle Major AJ Piner BA(Hons) GCGI DipELS DipABRSM CTABRSM CertGSMD(P) RM

WO2 AJ Piner joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1985 at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent.  After returning from a temporary draft at Royal Marines Band Scotland, he passed out of training in April 1987 and joined CinC Fleet Band, based at RAF Northolt, London.  During this formative period, he was fortunate enough to travel extensively, visiting North and Central America, Russia and much of Europe, including several interesting trips to Gibraltar.  

Following a further brief draft to Scotland Band in 1990, he joined his father (Bugler Alan Piner BEM) at CinC NavHome Band at Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth; this period saw the closure of the barracks by the sea, however, not before the band was able to enjoy an unforgettable three-month tour of New Zealand.  Shortly after the band’s return and relocation to HMS NELSON, and following a six-month deployment as ship’s Bugler onboard   HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, AJ joined CTCRM Band in May 1994 (yet another temporary draft) and was promoted Local Corporal. 

He became an instructor at RMSM in Deal, Kent, in September 1994 and during the next five years his sister and brother both joined the Royal Marines Band Service.  This period also saw the relocation of the school of music to Portsmouth, a complete redesigning of Buglers’ training and a two-week all expenses paid trip to San Francisco. 

Promotion to Sergeant Bugler in 2000 was closely followed by a draft back to Portsmouth Band and it was during this period that he completed the Certificate of Teaching with the ABRSM and gained the CertGSMD(P) on snare drum.  In 2003 AJ served onboard RFA ARGUS during the second Gulf war; this was an unforgettable experience and one that he is immensely proud of.  Later that year he was able to organise a Corps of Drums performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.  Further promotion in 2005 was accompanied by a draft to CTCRM where he assumed the role of I/C Corps of Drums and, following a brief period back at Portsmouth Band, he was appointed Bugle Major (Training) at RMSoM in September 2007.