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Master Sergeant Matthew Kirkpatrick

MSgt Matthew E. Kirkpatrick is a trumpet player in the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Sergeant Kirkpatrick is currently Section Chief of Readiness and performs with the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, and the Ambassadors Jazz Ensemble. His responsibilities include oversight of the deployment, wellness, training, safety, and security sections.

  

MSgt Kirkpatrick entered the Air Force in October of 2008, completing basic military training in November and reporting for duty at Robins AFB.  Sergeant Kirkpatrick has performed in over 30 countries during his time in the Air Force.  Prior to his current assignment MSgt Kirkpatrick was a trumpet player with the USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan. 

  

In a former life, MSgt Kirkpatrick was a member of the Wichita Symphony and Boise Philharmonic.  He is a native of Smyrna, Tennessee. 

  

EDUCATION 

2004 Bachelor of Music, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee 

2006 Master of Music, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 

2008 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas 

2014 Airman Leadership School, Ramstein AB, Germany 

2020 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan 

2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, National Defense University 

  

ASSIGNMENTS 

1. October 2008 - November 2008, Trainee, 323d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas 

2. November 2008 - January 2011, Regional Band Trumpet, USAF Band of the Reserve, Robins AFB, Georgia 

3. January 2011 - October 2016, Regional Band Trumpet, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany 

4. October 2016 - July 2019, Regional Band Trumpet, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois 

5. July 2019 – November 2023, Section Chief Publicity, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan 

6. November 2023 – Current, Section Chief Readiness, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany

  

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters) 

Army Commendation Medal 

Air Force Achievement Medal 

AF Organizational Excellence Award (with one oak leaf cluster) 

AF Good Conduct Medal (with four oak leaf clusters) 

National Defense Service Medal 

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 

Humanitarian Service Medal

AF Overseas Ribbon Long (with one oak leaf cluster)

AF Longevity Service (with two oak leaf clusters) 

USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon (with one oak leaf cluster) 

Basic Military Training Honor Graduate 

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle) 

AF Training Ribbon 

  

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 

Airman First Class Oct. 7, 2008 

Senior Airman Feb. 7, 2011                                     

Staff Sergeant Oct. 1, 2014 

Technical Sergeant Nov. 1, 2019 

Master Sergeant April 1, 2023 

  

(Current as of February 2024) 

MSgt Matthew E. Kirkpatrick is a trumpet player in the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Sergeant Kirkpatrick is currently Section Chief of Readiness and performs with the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, and the Ambassadors Jazz Ensemble. His responsibilities include oversight of the deployment, wellness, training, safety, and security sections.

  

MSgt Kirkpatrick entered the Air Force in October of 2008, completing basic military training in November and reporting for duty at Robins AFB.  Sergeant Kirkpatrick has performed in over 30 countries during his time in the Air Force.  Prior to his current assignment MSgt Kirkpatrick was a trumpet player with the USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan. 

  

In a former life, MSgt Kirkpatrick was a member of the Wichita Symphony and Boise Philharmonic.  He is a native of Smyrna, Tennessee. 

  

EDUCATION 

2004 Bachelor of Music, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee 

2006 Master of Music, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas 

2008 Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas 

2014 Airman Leadership School, Ramstein AB, Germany 

2020 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan 

2021 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, National Defense University 

  

ASSIGNMENTS 

1. October 2008 - November 2008, Trainee, 323d Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas 

2. November 2008 - January 2011, Regional Band Trumpet, USAF Band of the Reserve, Robins AFB, Georgia 

3. January 2011 - October 2016, Regional Band Trumpet, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany 

4. October 2016 - July 2019, Regional Band Trumpet, USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott AFB, Illinois 

5. July 2019 – November 2023, Section Chief Publicity, USAF Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan 

6. November 2023 – Current, Section Chief Readiness, USAFE Band, Ramstein AB, Germany

  

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters) 

Army Commendation Medal 

Air Force Achievement Medal 

AF Organizational Excellence Award (with one oak leaf cluster) 

AF Good Conduct Medal (with four oak leaf clusters) 

National Defense Service Medal 

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 

Humanitarian Service Medal

AF Overseas Ribbon Long (with one oak leaf cluster)

AF Longevity Service (with two oak leaf clusters) 

USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon (with one oak leaf cluster) 

Basic Military Training Honor Graduate 

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle) 

AF Training Ribbon 

  

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION 

Airman First Class Oct. 7, 2008 

Senior Airman Feb. 7, 2011                                     

Staff Sergeant Oct. 1, 2014 

Technical Sergeant Nov. 1, 2019 

Master Sergeant April 1, 2023 

  

(Current as of February 2024)