 The army is no longer then, by this time, the ideal means to appease the aspirations of a young man of twenty years?The answer was a double career - military and musical - which Jean-Baptiste's life would revolve around for close to a half century.On 7 March 1888, Jean-Baptiste committed to volunteer for 4 years in the active army with the Crews of the Fleet, in Brest, as Quarter-Major Musician Second-Class, then later to the 52nd Navy regiment as Corporal Drummer and Sergeant Drummer Regimental Adjutant.