Air Force Seeks to Draft Accordion Player

[Khephra]

QUINCY, Mass. -- There's a great job out there awaiting an accordion player. The catch: Six weeks in boot camp. The Air Force has been looking to replace the accordion player of its band's Strolling Strings music ensemble since the musician retired two years ago. So far, the search has been fruitless.

"It is very hard to find the right person for this job, but it's a great job for the right person," said Chief Master Sgt. Jane Bockenek, the Strolling Strings' music director who plays the violin in the band.

So, since the accordion players aren't coming to the Air Force, the Air Force is going to the accordion players.

Bockenek is looking to recruit at the 66th annual American Accordionists Association festival, which is happening this week in and around Boston. She interviewed a half-dozen people Sunday and was scheduled to hear auditions on Monday.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-military-accordions,0,2818575.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines