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There are many military bands in the United States military. Some are assigned to specific military bases or units; there are also bands at each of the service academies.
Seven bands are considered to be premier, with members selected by screened competitive audition prior to enlisting in the particular service. Members of these bands often come from prestigious conservatories and schools of music.
- United States Marine Band - established in 1798 by act of Congress, the Marine Band (nicknamed "The President's Own") is the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. It is well-known for its public performances (about 500 per year across the U.S.) and performances at the White House and Inauguration Day festivities. The United States Marine Band includes the Marine Band proper as well as the Marine Chamber Orchestra, and Marine Chamber Ensembles. John Philip Sousa led the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892. The Marine Band was headquartered at Marine Barracks at 8th Street and I Street in Washington, D.C. until September 2004, when it moved to the new Marine Barracks Annex and Marine Band Support Facility, located at 7th Street and Virginia Avenue.
- United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps - Officially established in 1934 as a field component to the Marine Corps Band, inspired by field musicians who passed orders from commanders to troops, the Drum and Bugle Corps (D&BC) is nicknamed "The Commandant's Own". It travels internationally to provide music and protection for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Drum and Bugle Corps was headquartered at Marine Barracks at 8th and I in Washington, D.C., at Truman Crawford Hall.
- United States Navy Band - Officially designated in 1925, the Navy Band is composed of 172 enlisted musicians and four officers. The organization is composed of a concert-ceremonial unit and four specialty units: the "Sea Chanters" chorus (1956), the "The Commodores" jazz ensemble (1969), the "Country Current" country-bluegrass group (1973), and the "Cruisers" contemporary music ensemble (1999). The band also has several chamber music groups. The Navy Band is based in the Washington Navy Yard. Captain George N. Thompson is the current commander.
- United States Army Band - This organization was officially created in 1922 by General John J. Pershing, and continues to be known as "Pershing's Own." This organization contains over 270 personnel and eight official ensembles, including the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets. The Army Band has led every inaugural parade since 1925.
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Unit Bands
- U.S. Army Bands
Many American historic events occurred with the support of a military musical unit. Prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, colonial soldiers marched to the music of fifes and drums. During the Civil War, military leaders on both sides relied on military musicians to entertain troops, position troops in battle, and stir the troops on to victory. A few bands (such as the 82nd Airborne Band, 2nd Infantry Division Band, and others, have received commendation in the past for their actions in direct combat, but these are largely historical holdovers). Other bands have entertained at official functions, entertained troops, and traveled throughout the world aiding public relations inside and outside of the United States.
- U.S. Army Ground Forces Band
- U.S. 3rd Infantry Division
- 13th Army Band
- 56th Army Band
- 76th Army Band
- 283d Army Band
- 323d Army Band
- 338th Army Band (Reserve)
- 215th Army Band
Coast Guard Band
| US Coast Guard Band | |
|---|---|
| Active | March, 1925-Present. |
| Country | USA |
In March 1925, the United States Coast Guard Band was organized with the assistance of Lt. Charles Benter, leader of the United States Navy Band, Dr. Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and "American March King" John Philip Sousa, former director of the United States Marine Band.
Forty years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Congressional Legislation that resulted in the Coast Guard Band becoming the permanent, official musical representative of the nation's oldest continuous seagoing service. This event established the Coast Guard Band as one of the five premier service bands in the United States.
The duties of the Coast Guard Band have greatly expanded since 1965. Originally a small command band located at the Academy and used primarily for local purposes, today the band routinely tours throughout the United States and has performed in the former Soviet Union and in England. It represents the Coast Guard around the nation and the world, at presidential functions, and for the Secretary of Homeland Security and other cabinet officials on formal and informal occasions.
Since its formation in 1925, the Coast Guard Band has developed an international reputation as one of the finest professional concert bands in the world, offering music of great variety and appeal. The band produces recordings and regularly furnishes programs to National Public Radio for broadcast over the entire country. Concerts have also been broadcast in Australia, Japan and Europe.
The Coast Guard Band is headquartered in New London, Connecticut.
The United States Air Force Band
| US Air Force Band | |
|---|---|
| Active | September 24, 1941-Present. |
| Garrison/HQ | Bolling Air Force Base |
| Motto | "America's International Musical Ambassadors" |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col Dennis M. Layendecker |
The United States Air Force Band is part of the United States Air Force Bands Program, which consists of 10 active duty stateside bands, 4 overseas active duty band locations. and 11 Air National Guard bands.
The band's official military life began on September 24, 1941, with the formation of the Bolling Army Air Forces Band under the sponsorship of Lieutenant L.P. Holcomb, commanding officer of the Air Base Group at Bolling Field. Since that time, the Band has grown from relative obscurity to stardom under the leadership of ten diverse and talented conductors.
From 1955 to 1961, the Air Force Band was joined by the WAF Band as twin ambassadors of the USAF, though USAF policy kept the WAF Band from overseas appearances. The WAF Band, founded as a local base band in 1951 at Lackland Air Force Base, were stationed alongside the all-male USAF Band at Bolling from 1953 to 1957 after which the popular women's band was invited to Norton Air Force Base where they stayed until being disbanded in 1961. Some 235 women served in the WAF Band's ten-year lifespan.
Over the years, The United States Air Force Band has performed live for over 100 million people. The band has also been broadcast via television and radio.
The band has embarked on 25 international concert tours, with performances in more than 50 countries and 42 world capitals. The musicians in The United States Air Force Band seek to promote better understanding between all people of the world, traveling as goodwill ambassadors.
A unique feature of the band was the U.S. Air Force Pipes and Drums, which existed as a free-standing unit within the Air Force Band between 1960 and 1970, when Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Ryan ordered it disbanded. (Prior to that, it was a part of the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps, which has also been disbanded.)
The United States Air Force Band is headquartered at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.
Marine Corps Unit Bands
There are 12 Marine Corps Unit Bands, which include
- 1st Marine Division Band
- 2nd Marine Division Band - "The Division's Own"
- Fleet Marine Force Pacific Band
- III Marine Expeditionary Force Band
- 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Band
- 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
- 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
- 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Band
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band Parris Island
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Band, San Diego
- Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band
- Marine Corps Base Quantico Band
2nd Marine Division Band
The 2nd Marine Division Band, "The Division's Own," initially brought together Marines of the 2nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Regiment, and 8th Marine Regiment bands, who first collaborated while on liberty in Wellington, New Zealand during World War II. Members of the 2d Marine Division Band fought with Marines and sailors on Tarawa, Tinian, Wake Island, Gudalcanal, and Saipan.
Not serving in combat in Korea and Vietnam, the 2nd Marine Division bandsmen were frequently called upon as litter-bearers and military police, and to augment security forces. In 1991, "The Division's Own" saw combat action in the Gulf War(Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), and participated in the subsequent Washington, D.C. victory parade.
In 2005 in the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom), the 2d Marine Division Band served as an interior camp guard platoon in Al Anbar. In 2007, they served in Al Asad and Camp Fallujah. Today, Marine Corps bands train to serve as security platoons for their headquarters command element.
The 2d Marine Division Band is the only musical unit aboard Camp Lejeune and provides musical support for the five major commands and 30,000 Marines for whom Camp Lejeune is home. It also performs in numerous parades, concerts and ceremonies throughout North Carolina and the eastern United States. They are known as "Musical Ambassadors" for the Corps.[1]
1st Marine Division Band
The 1st Marine Division Band was also organized during World War II in the Pacific Theater. During the early stages of the war, the 1st Marine Division launched the first land offensive against Japan, and the band laid its instruments aside and became front line troops for the four months of the campaign. After the 1st Marine Division left Guadalcanal for leave, the band resumed its musical duties, and was soon unofficially adopted as "Australia's Own." The iconic Australian song "Waltzing Matilda" was then adopted as the official song of the 1st Marine Division. With the surrender of Japan, the band returned to the United States.
In the Korean War, the 1st Marine Division Band made the Incheon landing on September 16, 1950 as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade with Major General Oliver P. Smith, Division Commander. The Band then took over the duty of guarding Smith's command post. After a few moves, the band made the Wonsan landing and then half of the band was pulled off the security detail to help unload and sort supplies landed at Wonsan. The band remained split, half staying with Smith at the rear command post, and the other half moving through North Korea guarding the forward command post of Lieutenant General Edward Craig. At the Chosin Reservoir, the latter group engaged in heavy fighting. One bandsman was killed and seven were wounded, not including the frostbite cases.
The 1st Marine Division Band was the first military band to be ordered to the Persian Gulf and the only band to go into Kuwait during the Gulf War. They deployed on September 2, 1990 and arrived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia the next day, with their instruments following by sea. The band provided perimeter security for the Division and its commander, Major General Charles Wilhelm. The first camp was Hall (pronounced Hay) 15, a camp built for oil workers. The Command Post was moved to the desert on September 13 and would remain there until the band returned home.
In February 2003, the 1st Marine Division Band began deploying to Kuwait in the lead-up to the Iraq War. While in Kuwait, the band stood duty as well as trained on machine guns and convoy security prior to deployment into Iraq. In March, the band crossed over into Iraq, providing security for the Division Headquarters both while on the move or at each nightly stop digging fighting positions and forming perimeter security.
In Ad Diwaniyah they retrieved their instruments and started performing morale boosting concerts all over Iraq. They played in Babylon, Camp Commando, and around Diwaniyah for the numerous units in the surrounding area.
Soon after returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom I, the 1st Marine Division Band started training for the next deployment. Late in 2003 they were informed that they would be returning to Iraq. In February 2004 the band deployed to Kuwait and remained there until the 1st Marine Division advanced into Iraq. Soon thereafter, they began a 3-day push to Ar Ramadi. This was to be the band’s home for the next seven months.
In Ar Ramadi they took control of perimeter security from the U.S. Army. For this deployment, their primary mission was to control the base operations and provide perimeter security for Camp Blue Diamond. Additional assignments for the band included security on convoys to nearby bases and patrols outside the perimeter. Even though the base endured countless indirect fire attacks, the Marine Musicians still kept an intense vigilance.
In the most recent deployment, the band was attached to Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 5 and was deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq from February 2006 to January 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07. This deployment differed from OIF I and II in that the band continued its musical mission at home, while elements of the band deployed.
The band’s primary role in Iraq was as a security detachment. Command element members served as the Security Officers, Security Platoon Commanders, Company Gunnery Sergeants for Headquarters Company, Convoy Commanders, and Security Platoon Sergeants. Other members of the band were stationed at the Government Center in Fallujah providing over-watch security for the compound. This security allowed Civil Affairs Group personnel, as well as government, military and civilian officials to conduct business at the compound in safety. Division bandsmen were also attached as gunners, drivers and vehicle commanders to the security element of an Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, and also a multi-purpose security convoy.
Following redeployment at the end of January 2007, the 1st Marine Division Band was once again a full unit and continued their musical mission aboard Camp Pendleton. An annual concert at The Center for the Performing Arts, in Escondido, California marked the first major public performance following the deployment.
MCB Quantico Marine Band
The Quantico Marine Corps Band was established in 1918 and is one of the oldest of the Marine Corps' professional musical ensembles. It is under the operational control of the base commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico and is currently under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert A. Szabo.
The Band is composed of a ceremonial band and concert band each equipped to provide musical support as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Commander of Marine Corps Base, Quantico. In addition, the band maintains a number of small ensembles, including a brass quintet, woodwind quintet, rock/show band, party band, and jazz combo. With an authorized strength of one officer and 50 enlisted Marines, the band has performed at many recognized civilian events; including the Super Bowl XLI Pregame Show, the 9/11 Memorials at Carnegie Hall and the Town Arts Theatre, the Macy’s Thanksgiving and Columbus Day Parades in New York City, the 7th through 9th Virginia International Tattoos, and the Opening Ceremony for the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Through its performances, the Band provides musical support encouraging community relations, enhances troop morale, and promotes the Marine Corps recruiting program. As well as musical support, the members of the band also fulfill their duties as Marine Riflemen. In support of Iraqi Freedom II, 20 members of the band were attached to Task Force National Capitol Region and have returned home safely.
Other U.S. military service bands
- USAF Band of the Pacific, tri-located at Elmendorf AFB (Alaska), with subunits at Hickam AFB (Hawaii) and Yokota AB (Japan)
- Band of the Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
- USAF Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- United States Air Force Band of Liberty (founded in 1978, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA)
- U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band (founded in 1941 as the Army Air Corps Band, Langley Air Force Base, VA)
- U.S. Military Academy Band (founded 1817, West Point, NY)
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band (Kings Point, NY)
- Naval Academy Band (founded in 1845, Annapolis, MD)
- Air Force Academy Band (inception in 1942 as the "Flying Yanks", reactivated for the United States Air Force Academy in 1955, Colorado Springs, CO)
References
- ^ Band history, Jordan R. Sorderstrum
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