JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The U.S. Air Force Band of the West speaks the universal language of music.
That's how the 45 professional musicians accomplish their mission as ambassadors for the Air Force throughout a four-state region, and while deployed throughout Southwest Asia.
"We are the face of the Air Force in Texas, Louisiana, Arizona and New Mexico," said 1st Lt. Joseph Hansen, USAF Band of the West deputy commander. "We lift the morale and esprit de corps of service members in the United States, overseas and at forward deployed locations."
Capt. Michael Hoerber, who assumed command of the band in October, leads the 502nd Air Base Wing asset, one of eight regional bands in the Air Force.
The Band of the West travels more than 125,000 miles annually, averaging 300 performances a year to military and civilian audiences while supporting 13 active-duty bases.
Performances by the band's ensembles provide a platform for increasing public awareness of the Air Force mission. Performing throughout the southwestern United States also helps the service's recruiting effort. For many in the local communities, it's their first introduction to Air Force customs and traditions.
Band members also entertain deployed warfighters, and advance international relationships in communities abroad by using music to bridge language and cultural differences.
"We visit forward operating bases where service members usually are starving for some touch of home," said Chief Master Sgt. William Castleman, band manager. "We entertain troops who are far from the typical bases where the USO (United Service Organization) tours come through. That's especially important during the holidays."
The eight-member rock band, Top Flight, deploys next year for 90 days. The group plays classic rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, country, and current pop music.
"We're an asset unlike any other in the military because we can get into places as musicians that other service members can't," Hansen said. "On our last deployment, our rock band played for a traditionally anti-American audience in Kyrgyzstan.
"At first, there was not much of a response from the audience," he said, "but, by the end of the night, people were dancing and singing along. They may not be able to speak English, but they knew the music and all the words."
To accommodate a variety of performance requests, members from the 35-member concert band also play in smaller ensembles. They include Dimensions in Blue, a jazz ensemble; Warhawk, a popular music ensemble; Southwest Winds, a woodwind quintet; Horizon, a saxophone quartet; Gateway Brass, comprised of two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, a tuba, and percussion; and the traditional ceremonial marching band that performs at military ceremonies, parades, conventions, sports events and other venues.
Band members typically have at least one college-level degree although an advanced music degree is not a requirement. Bound together as highly-qualified professional musicians, they also have a common desire to serve in the military.
As a direct duty assignment following basic military training, each member of the band is required to meet Air Force entrance requirements. Selection is also based on successfully passing a stringent audition.
There's more to being in the AF Band of the West than just being a musician and playing an instrument.
The majority of a typical duty day focuses on administrative functions, and daily support duties - from finance and operations, to marketing and scheduling, to loading and unloading equipment for performances. All the while, band members must uphold Air Force active-duty standards while practicing, rehearsing, traveling and performing.
"We're Airmen musicians; Airmen first, then musicians," Castleman said. "We bring a specialty to the Air Force and a desire to serve our country."