Submitted photo Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Aulet of Niles plays euphonium. He said he has played the trumpet at more than 1,100 funerals in nine states as part of the 338th Army Band, 88th Readiness Division Casualty Operations Funeral Team.

NILES — Ronald E. Aulet remembers the time he attended Youngstown State University for music education and played the trumpet for an ensemble.

However, he soon discovered that attending college was not his preference and had a desire to travel, experience life and most importantly, help people. In 2007, Aulet enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, which he found to be the ideal fit for him.

“I remember going to the Marine Corps recruiters and asking them, ‘Why I should join the Marines?’ Their response was, ‘We are better and have better uniforms.’ Then I went next door to the United States Army and asked them why I should join. Their reply was that they can offer me tuition, a bonus and a chance to experience the world, so I chose the United States Army. Another reason I chose the Army was the fact that I was the first one in my family to join the Army since my great-grandfather, who fought in World War II,” Aulet said.

In 2007, Aulet went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in South-Central Missouri, where he trained to be military police.

“My experience there was phenomenal. We did One Station Unit Training there,” Aulet said.

One Station Unit Training, sometimes referred to as One Site Unit Training, is a term used by the Army to refer to a training program in which recruits remain with the same unit for both basic training and advanced individual training, according to military.com.

The 447th Military Police Company in North Canton was Aulet’s first assignment. He returned home for six months and then was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, for one year in July 2009. This assignment was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“The company I was a part of opened up the Parwan Detention Facility in Bagram, Afghanistan (which also is known as Bagram Prison or Detention Facility in Parwan). I volunteered at that point in my life. I was not going to college and did not have any significant ties. Afghanistan reminded me so much of Fort Bliss in McGregor, Texas, where I trained. It was so weird, at the end of November in Afghanistan, we got 2 feet of snow and then it thawed out after three days,” Aulet said.

After being stationed in Afghanistan, Aulet returned home to his job working as a part-time reservist and part-time at a convenience store. Outside of the military, Aulet’s passion is being a musician. He enjoys playing the trumpet, euphonium and tuba.

“In the midst of everything going on, I switched my Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) to being an Army Bandsman after I got back from Afghanistan. I love being a musician, and my musical inspirations come from a lot of British musicians such as David Childs, Steven Mead and The Cory Band. One of my fondest memories was playing the euphonium for the Pure Michigan NASCAR race,” Aulet said.

Opportunity knocked on Aulet’s door to combine his musical talents and his love and support for his fellow troops. Aulet was assigned Feb. 25, 2011, to the 338th United States Army Reserve Command Band in Whitehall. This was where he earned the MOS of 42R9C Euphonium Player. That same year, Aulet was selected as the section leader of euphoniums. Aulet volunteered to perform with Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS) while involved with the 338th Army Band, with the 88th Readiness Division Casualty Operations Funeral Team.

He was promoted to sergeant in 2014.

“In March of 2014, I was assigned to play trumpet for military funerals. As of right now, I have played at 1,100 funerals in nine states. The 88th Readiness Division has teams in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. They coordinate with over 250 soldiers, and I was involved with them. The coordinator knew that I played the trumpet and asked me if I would start playing the trumpet for military funerals,” Aulet said.

From December 2016 to June 2018, Aulet was assigned as the 88th Readiness Division Casualty Operations Coordinator in Frazer, Michigan.

“In June of 2018, I became a civilian for the Department of Defense, where I was doing military funerals on the civilian front. I was making sure soldiers were paid and making sure travel for funerals was complete. I did that from 2018 to 2020. I switched jobs again and worked as an Army Reserve administrator with the 347th Quartermaster Company in Farrell, Pa. While I was an administrator, I learned that I loved helping soldiers to make sure that they had what they needed. So the United States Army thought that I would make a great Army Reserve career counselor,” Aulet said.

Aulet was assigned to work as an Army Reserve career counselor in North Canton, which is his current occupation. Today, he enjoys providing soldiers with the proper guidance and direction they need when selecting a position in their military career.

“An Army Reserve career counselor is a job that is needed because soldiers need support and need to make sure the Army is at the strength it’s supposed to be. I help soldiers decide what they would like to do with their military career. As of right now, I have helped over 50 soldiers and I help them decide whether the Army is right for them or not,” Aulet said.

Aulet, a man of many talents, also has a passion for acting. He said he has had previous experience acting in a community theater. When he is away from his desk, Aulet takes his acting skills to the next level working as an actor and a makeup artist at the Akron Haunted House and Laboratory in Akron. This has been Aulet’s weekend gig for three years during the Halloween season.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, I serve for the Army during the week from 9 to 5. Then on the weekends, I scare people at the haunted house. Being in the Army is a thank-you that goes unrecognized, so it’s important to send the soldiers who are overseas and away from their homes a lot of love,” Aulet said.