USAFE Band

Staff Sgt. Chantelle Friedman, regional band clarinet player for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Band, gives feedback on how the clarinet section sounds during a rehearsal Oct. 30 on Ramstein. The USAFE Band travels throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East, strengthening the reputation of the Air Force.

USAFE Airmen Tuning American Reputation Overseas

Published Nov. 18, 2013
By Story and photo by Senior Airman Damon Kasberg
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Ramstein AB -- How does U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa speak to more than a quarter of the world's population without saying a word?

They do it one note at a time, using the USAFE Band.

"We speak the international language of music," said Staff Sgt. Chantelle Friedman, regional band clarinet player. "It's impossible for one person to speak every language here in Europe and Africa, but with our instruments we can get through to people very quickly."

The USAFE Band is made up of 45 members, who travel Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Throughout their travels, many band members have seen the differences their performances make firsthand.

"It hit me that I was an ambassador when I came to this assignment at USAFE and we started our first missions in different countries," Friedman said. "One of the first places I realized our impact was when I went to Serbia and we played for people who were pretty much standoffish about the U.S. military. I could see throughout the concert they went from crossing their arms and looking very stern to clapping, singing and dancing along. I knew I was making a difference, and that's what I'm here to do."

Other Airmen set the tone for people's impression of Americans.

"We go places and represent America to people who've never met an American," said Master Sgt. Joshua Gates, clarinet section leader. "We performed in Russia in 2011. For some people, I was the first American they'd ever interacted with. I had the opportunity to shape their feelings about us."

At its peak, the Air Force had four bands stationed throughout Europe. Now there is only one, but the USAFE Band continues to accomplish the Air Force mission with more than 400 shows a year.

"It's a vital part of the mission that we're doing right now," Friedman said. "Just as people go out and fly aircraft, we use the same precision in our job to promote what the Air Force is trying to do, which is a mission of world peace."

Though they may not say a single word, the Airmen of the band say more in the lines they play, and it's a message received by all.

Click the Link for the USAFE Concert Band 2013 Holiday calendar: CONCERT BAND EVENTS