The music man: sergeant fosters international relationships one note at a time

Airman, Sept, 2004 by Val Gempis

Sergeant Fitzgerald feels fortunate to be a military bandsman and seeing members of the audience smile with approval when they hear the music is one of the best feelings in the world.

He knows first-hand what some of his friends are going through trying to make ends meet by performing at weddings and parties.

"Here I come to work everyday and play my trombone," he said. "It might not be 'The Happiest Place on Earth,' but it sure comes close."

Career Field Facts

3N1X1--Regional Band

Assigned: 50 trombonists out of approximately 600 regional bandsmen Air Force wide

Duties: Performs on trombone in the Pacific Showcase jazz band, the Pacific Brass quintet and in the Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia marching band. Ensembles perform for troop morale events, ceremonial and protocol functions and engagements promoting goodwill and strengthening relations with U.S. allies.

Civilian Application: Professional musician

Staff Sgt. Keith E. Fitzgerald Trombonist, Band of the Pacific-Asia, Yokota Air Base, Japan

Years in Air Force: Six

Hometown: Fairfax, Va.

Reason for enlisting: "I wanted someone to pay me to play the trombone. It's what I love to do and what I went to college for."

Original enlistment plan: I decided to take it day by day and if I didn't like it [the Air Force], I was given the opportunity to leave every four years.

Assignments: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 1998, basic military trainee; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1998 to 2000, Air Force Band of Flight Concert Band principal trombonist and Night Flight Jazz Ensemble lead/solo trombonist; Yokota Air Base, Japan, 2000 to present, Pacific Showcase Jazz Ensemble lead trombonist and Pacific Brass trombonist.

Coming up: Finishing a bachelor's degree in humanities, promotion to technical sergeant in July 2005.

The best thing about the job: "I make friends with music. I have the distinct honor of representing the Air Force to people around the world; many of whom have never even seen a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Hopefully, I can build peace by breaking down the differences in cultures through the universal language of music. I get to build support for the Air Force's global mission by strengthening our ties with allies through the language of music."