UXO Music

SSG Clifton Vail is an instructor at Ft. Campbell's Non Commissioned Officer Academy. He has been in the Army for twelve years and his job is to help train new sergeants on how to be good leaders. Clifton says he loves the Army life and has gained valuable experience as a result of his choice to serve our country. The reasons people chose to join the military vary from the GI bill to a chance to travel the world but for Clifton the reason to join the Army was simple. He wanted to be able to fund his passion of making music. Clifton loves rap music and hopes to be the next big rap artist.

Like most of us, Clifton puts in long hours at work. When he get off he has to balance being a father and husband with his desire to make music. He's started his own label called UXO Music. UXO is an Army acronyms for unexploeded ordinance which is symbolic for Clifton's music career as he feels like it will explode any minute now when his music is heard by the right person.

Clifton, aka V-Smooth says the discipline and work ethic he's learned from the Army has shaped and helped him balance work, family life and producing his music. Clifton has spent a lot of his own money to put out an album called War Stories- The Mix Tape Vol. 1. The album should be out next month in music stores around Ft. Campbell and in Nashville. It will also be available for purchase from his web site where you can preview some of his songs.

I'm not a huge rap fan but I did like some of his music and was glad to be able to get to know the man behind the music.

Watch the story.