A New Gumbo: In the Crescent City with The Academy Forum and the USAF Academy Band Published March 28, 2013 By A1C Kevin Cerovich U.S. Air Force Academy Band Air Force Academy Forum; Wild Blue Country; Academy Band -- On tour in Louisiana, The USAF Academy Forum and USAF Academy Band Wild Blue Country recently teamed up for a mission that culminated in a recruiting seminar at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, March 9. Coming together in a recruiting trip beginning earlier this month, the Academy Forum sent Second Lieutenants Ariez Waiters and Fallynne Henderson and Wild Blue Country to reach students through music across Louisiana. Performing several TV interviews and performances, mostly at high schools, their combined effort reached over 1.1 million people. Live audience totals were over three thousand. Airman 1st Class Jared Andrews, Wild Blue Country bassist spoke about using the power of music to reach potential Academy cadets. "We were playing tunes from the radio: "Home" by (American Idol Star) Phillip Phillips and "Never Ever" by (country star) Taylor Swift," Andrews said, "-The kids were coming up to us with our instruments still in hand to ask about the Academy. This is a great way to get kids interested in their future who would otherwise know nothing about the Academy." "I have a guaranteed job after graduation; I don't have to soul search for what I'm going to do with my life," Waiters said. "-I already know where I'm going, what career field I'm going to enter into and I know what impact I'll have." This message, which was facilitated by Wild Blue Country, was shared by the officers to potential cadets on this new model of recruiting trip. For more Academy Band news, visit www.usafacademyband.af.mil