The 686th Air Force Band, known also as the United States Air Forces in Europe Band (USAFE Band) is composed of 45 active duty Air Force musicians who serve under the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa Command and work as musical ambassadors to European nations in NATO and the European Union. Through numerous radio and television broadcasts, and performances, the USAFE Band provides American music to the troops of USAFE.
It was first activated on 1 February 1943, as the 386th Army Band of the United States Army Air Forces, the predecessor of the USAF. Starting as a unit of just five members, the band quickly grew to an ensemble of 45. The unit's primary mission was to develop a way to entertain U.S. troops and boost their morale on the frontlines. In addition to performing traditional military ceremonial and parade music, members formed a dance band which performed for evening events on Post, playing the popular swing music of the era, as composed by the Army Air Corps' own Major Glenn Miller, among others. In 1944, amidst some of the fiercest battles of World War II, The band was selected for relocation to Europe; first, briefly, in a suburb of Paris, France, and then in Wiesbaden Germany, where they remained stationed until 1977. Since then, the band has moved among various locations in Germany, ultimately settling at their current home of Ramstein Air Base. [1]
The functions of the band rests in the band's different ensembles. The USAFE Ceremonial Band is mainly provides full musical honors, such as Ruffles and Flourishes. Their presence is centered around traditional military ceremonies such as state visits and funerals. It also takes part in military tattoos and marching festivals all over the continent, earning it the nickname of "America's Musical Ambassador". "The Ambassadors" ensemble is a jazz band with characteristics of big band ensembles. The "Touch & Go" ensemble is a dynamic pop/rock band that covers music of today as well as music of the 70's, 80's and 90's. [2] [3]
Ramstein Air Base or Ramstein AB is a United States Air Force base in Rhineland-Palatinate, a state in southwestern Germany. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and also for NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). Ramstein is located near the town of Ramstein-Miesenbach, which stands outside the base's west gate, in the rural district of Kaiserslautern. The base supports forward elements deploying to Eastern Europe and Africa.
A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Music director. Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military marching bands in the world, dating from the 13th century.
The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, and operations and support activities in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command's areas of responsibility. It also has a unique mission as the U.S. military's primary liaison to the British government, which is conducted through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, England.
The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is a United States Air Force (USAF) major command (MAJCOM) and a component command of both United States European Command (USEUCOM) and United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM). As part of its mission, USAFE-AFAFRICA commands U.S. Air Force units pledged to NATO, maintaining combat-ready wings based from the United Kingdom to Turkey. USAFE-AFAFRICA plans, conducts, controls, coordinates and supports air and space operations in Europe, parts of Asia and all of Africa with the exception of Egypt to achieve U.S. national and NATO objectives based on taskings by the two combatant commanders.
United States military bands include musical ensembles maintained by the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Coast Guard. More broadly, they can also include musical ensembles of other federal and state uniformed services, including the Public Health Service and NOAA Corps, the state defense forces, and the senior military colleges.
Robert D. Gaylor was an American military senior non-commissioned officer, the 5th Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force from 1977 to 1979.
Fleet Band Activities (FBA), formerly the Navy Music Program (NMP), is the central management office for nine active-duty fleet bands of the United States Navy. It is located at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee. FBA has the responsibility of coordinating the assignment and distribution of personnel, equipment and funding to the worldwide activities of navy military bands. It also is responsible for managing the application and audition process for potential navy musicians. Personnel from the FBA work directly with the Bureau of Naval Personnel to meet our musician requirements for the fleet.
The Seventeenth Expeditionary Air Force was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command served the United States Air Forces in Europe during (1953–1996) and United States Air Forces Africa during 2008–2012. Upon reactivation on 1 October 2008, it became the air and space component of United States Africa Command. In this capacity, Seventeenth Air Force was referred to as U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA). 17 AF was reformed in April 2012 to become the 17th Expeditionary Air Force, sharing a commander and headquarters with the Third Air Force. As of March 2022, the Third Air Force is USAFE-AFAFRICA's sole numbered air force, with the 17 EAF having been inactivated in July 2018.
The United States Africa Command is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflicts and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations. Its area of responsibility covers all of Africa except Egypt, which is within the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command. U.S. AFRICOM headquarters operating budget was $276 million in fiscal year 2012.
The United States Air Force Band is a U.S. military band consisting of 184 active-duty members of the United States Air Force.
United States military music customs are the traditional, regulatory, and statutory provisions that guide performances by United States military bands during drill and ceremony and state occasions.
Justin (Wayne) Lewis is an American arts administrator, conductor, cellist, and educator who became a conductor in the United States Air Force Band program in 2012.
Sri Lankan military bands refer to the joint-service musical units of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces representing the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Sri Lanka Air Force. The three bands mentioned, which were established in 1949, 1952 and 1970 respectively and are the seniormost in the armed forces. They are composed of many ceremonial marching bands as well as concert bands which are base for the band's success. The band participates in main social and cultural events, including formal state visits and military parades. All army regiments also contain a regimental band for ceremonial duties.
The United States Army Europe Band and Chorus a musical component of the United States Army, composed of army musicians who serve under the USAREUR. It is currently based in the German city of Sembach, being subordinated to the Headquarters Battalion, USAREUR, in Wiesbaden. Its components include a 100+ concert and ceremonial ensemble. It is currently under the musical command of Major Randall S. Bartel. The band members enter the band as musicians while singers are selectively chosen through Army auditions. The combined band and chorus perform in 200+ events per year all over the European continent.
The United States Naval Forces Europe Band (NAVEUR Band) is the musical component of the United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa, a subordinate command of the United States European Command and United States Africa Command. It acts as the de facto American musical unit for Europe. As a United States Navy band, it is part of the Navy Music Program. Currently stationed in at Naval Support Activity in Naples, Italy, it operates under the direct control and supervision of the Commander of NAVEUR.
The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West is an American military band based at Travis Air Force Base, California. Its area of responsibility outside its home state includes Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada. It also supports 13 bases, 8 reserve wings, and 6 recruiting squadrons.
The Rwanda Defence Force Military Band Regiment is the ceremonial band that serves both State and Military. Although it represents the defence forces, it falls under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff. Since 2009 the RDF Military Band is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Ndayisabye. The RDF Band is made up of Headquarter and four ensembles:
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