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Greasing the Wheels of Diplomacy – An interview the Air Force Bands Career Field Manager

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Kevin Cerovich
Washington, D.C. --  Chief Master Sgt. Craig LeDoux gives his perspective on the outstanding past, present and dynamic future of Air Force bands.

"Where you sit is where you stand," says LeDoux of his job as Air Force Bands Career Field Manager. He has been the chief enlisted leader of all Air Force Bandsmen since 2014.

"This position has absolutely changed and enhanced my vision as to where our bands fit within the broader Public Affairs (PA) mission and, indeed, the entire Air Force," explains LeDoux. "We're much more closely linked with our fellow Public Affairs colleagues than many would think. Photojournalists and Broadcasters carry the same 3N in their Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) that we Bandsmen do. In addition, all PA officers, including Bandsmen, are '35 series' This helps promote greater continuity and synergy amongst the broader PA enterprise."

This understanding is a must for anyone in the apex position of Career Field Manager as part of one's daily duties is meeting with the Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. In LeDoux's case this is Brigadier General Ed Thomas.

"After meeting with his divisions, of which the band is one, General Thomas then briefs the Secretary of the Air Force and other key leaders on the issues of the day," says LeDoux. "On any given day our conversations at the meeting could include anything from a specific band deployment mission to discussing the new Boeing KC-46."

There was not much time for LeDoux to adjust to his new environs upon taking over. "Upon reporting to the Pentagon, I immediately took charge of the bands' education and training program overhaul," he expounds. Suffice it to say, the operations tempo of LeDoux's demanding job has not decelerated significantly.

In fact, LeDoux manages two separate career fields: regional bands and the premier band here in Washington, D.C. (3N1's and 3N2's respectively). "I like to sum up the shared mission of both band career fields as to honor, inspire and connect," explains LeDoux. "We do this by honoring our great nation, honoring the fallen, inspiring the American public and connecting foreign public to the Air Force and the United States of America."

In this way, the Air Force Bands' mission has not changed since its inception. "When I look at Colonel Howard's 'Symphony in the Sky' or Major Glenn Miller's incredible legacy of service, I am reminded of how critically important our mission is" says LeDoux.

"During the Cold War, the bands were crucial in many diplomatic missions and [they] continue to be today. With a night of music, we can create an entirely different effect than a squadron of fighter jets. The results may be hard to detect at first but music seems to grease the wheels of diplomacy like nothing else can," he explains.

"Our continuing legacy of service has been enhanced by our robust deployment mission." This is one of the many facets of the job that LeDoux has managed flawlessly. "It's so important to show these brave American men and woman and coalition partners that people back home really do care and are thinking of them. The relief and enjoyment we bring them is a proud hallmark of Air Force bands and helps, we hope, with their overall spiritual fitness."

In the modern era, social media and global communication have brought Air Force Bands to new levels of visibility and success. "We have had tremendous success with live streaming, viral videos and a greatly increased news-media presence," expounds LeDoux. His outlook on the future of Air Force Bands is bright, but rife with intelligent provisions.

"First of all, we should be constantly attuned to what messaging our leadership, deployed combatant commanders in particular, want us to provide," says LeDoux

"Every performance is a chance to talk about the amazing things the men and women of the United States Air Force are doing," says LeDoux. "We need Air Force messaging at every level, not just our great enlisted leaders and PA trained officers.

"Band members are being interviewed on television and radio more and more frequently. I would like to see band leadership train their Airmen in interview technique; in particular, 'bridging' from general questioning to more Air Force centric messaging.

"In addition, Air Force Bandsmen should be properly trained to handle questions that are not 'softballs,'" explains LeDoux. "With the current downsizing in the military and subsequent percentage loss of representation in the general public, more and more journalists will unabashedly want to know what Air Force bands do for them."

This upcoming holiday season will provide the perfect backdrop for LeDoux's hitherto explained wisdom as Air Force Bands around the world will be running at full steam to bring patriotism and inspiration to those they serve.

"From the Airmen of Note's performance at the national tree lighting to the deployed Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) Band in Southwest Asia, our outstanding airmen musicians will be out in full force this holiday season," LeDoux says. "They will be doing what we in the Air Force Bands do best, bringing a slice of home, patriotism, and joy to those who need it most."