Historic AF Musical Mission to Southwest Asia

Members of The U.S. Air Force Band's ensemble Silver Wings perform at a community center in Nagad, Djibouti, this past October. Silver Wings participated in a 55-day deployment to six countries throughout Southwest Asia and Africa as part of the U.S. Central Command Air Forces' Expeditionary Band Live Round.

Airmen, Marines team up for Djibouti humanitarian mission

Master Sgt. Dennis Hoffman gives an impromptu magic show Oct. 23 for the children of Nagad, Djibouti. Sergeant Hoffman is a drummer with the U.S. Central Command Air Force's Expeditionary Band Live Round. The band is touring Djibouti to perform a series of morale and community outreach concerts. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Charles Siler)

Airmen, Marines team up for Djibouti humanitarian mission

Master Sgt. Shani Prewitt laughs with the children of Nagad, Djibouti, following a performance in the village Oct. 23. Sergeant Prewitt is a vocalist with the U.S. Central Command Air Forces' Expeditionary Band Live Round. The band is touring Djibouti to perform a series of morale and community outreach concerts. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Charles Siler)

Historic AF Musical Mission to Southwest Asia

Technical Sgt. Michael Mason jams with fellow Airmen at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan this past October. Sergeant Mason is a vocalist for The U.S. Air Force Band's ensemble Silver Wings, which participated in a 55-day deployment to six countries throughout Southwest Asia and Africa as part of the U.S. Central Command Air Forces' Expeditionary Band Live Round.

Historic AF Musical Mission to Southwest Asia

Technical Sgt. Jonathan McPherson performs for members of a local community in Nagad, Djibouti. Sergeant McPherson is the keyboardist for The U.S. Air Force Band's Silver Wings, which participated in a 55-day deployment to six countries throughout Southwest Asia and Africa as part of the U.S. Central Command Air Forces' Expeditionary Band Live Round.

Historic AF Musical Mission to Southwest Asia and Africa

Published Feb. 5, 2008
By Master Sgt. Matthew Irish
USAF Band

BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. -- The United States Air Force Band's ensemble Silver Wings returned from an historic deployment to Southwest Asia this past December. The two-month mission was one of the longest deployments ever for one of the Band's performing units and they were the first Air Force Band to deploy as part of the newly formed U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band.

Under the leadership of Capt. Michael Murray and Master Sgt. Joe Grasso, Silver Wings performed for a wide variety of audiences - from deployed American troops to villagers in Africa. The group delivered 46 performances in 55 days reaching a total of over 15,000 American servicemen and servicewomen, coalition allies and host nation citizens in Djibouti, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar and Iraq.

"We began preparation for this deployment by attending the Advanced Contingency Skills Training at Ft. Dix, N.J., back in July," Captain Murray explained. "This course helped prepare the team for riding in convoys and handling weapons - two things bandsmen don't typically do."

Each part of the training course helped prepare the 10-member team for unexpected situations they might encounter while in Southwest Asia. "The team gained a large measure of confidence because of the course and it helped them feel prepared to handle the deployed environment," said Captain Murray.

Even with this training, the random sound of mortar and AK-47 fire throughout the day and night gave members of the ensemble an occasional shock.

"One morning we received a familiar warning over the base speaker system telling us that there was about to be a large explosion nearby," recalls Master Sgt. Dennis Hoffmann, Silver Wings' NCOIC. "We all heard the announcement and rolled back over in bed, but one of our members still fell out of bed when the sound of the blast occurred."

Fortunately for the team, the only consistent blast heard around them during time in theatre was the enthusiastic applause and cheering from their audience.

Concerning the band's commitment to community outreach, Sergeant Hoffmann remarked, "Going into the village in Djibouti, Africa, and seeing how they reacted to the music was the most rewarding part of the deployment."

The group also performed for Iraqi troops and their families who are living alongside American Airmen at Camp Sather near Baghdad. This particular show was a welcome surprise for Master Sgt. Shani Prewitt, one of the vocalists in Silver Wings. "Who would have thought several years ago that we would one day be performing for Iraqi troops in Iraq?"