Q and AMore than 50 bands in military

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 16, 2008

Question: Can you give me some information about U.S. military bands? How many are there? Where are they stationed overseas? How old are some of the oldest? And so on. -L.S., Topeka.

Answer: One source came up with 59 bands in the U.S. Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard.

The most bands in one of the five services is 30 in the Army.

"The 30 based both here at home and internationally make up the traditional Army bands, from small ensembles to ceremonial bands to jazz bands," said an Army source.

"Musicians have been an integral part of the military even before the U.S. Army was created in 1775," said the source. "From the Signal Corps drummers in the Revolutionary War to the full brass bands of World War II, music has been a critical part of the Army's success."

The 30 Army bands include 24 stationed in forts in the United States and six overseas.

The closest Army band to Topeka is the 1st Infantry Division Band about an hour's drive west at Fort Riley near Manhattan.

Bands stationed in foreign countries are the U.S. Army Europe Band at Heidelberg, the 76th Army Band at Mannheim and the 1st Armored Division Band at Wiesbaden, all in Germany; the 2nd Infantry Division Band at Uijongbu and the 8th Army Band at Yongsan, both in Korea, and the 296th Army Band at Camp Zama, Tokyo, Japan.

The Air Force is second on the list with 14 bands, according to the source.

The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., and the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colo., are classed as premier bands.

Ten regional bands are stationed in the United States, Germany and Japan.

The Marines has its band known as "The President's Own," which was established on July 11, 1798, and is America's oldest professional musical organization, and 11 active-duty Marine Corps field bands.

"The President's Own" consists of fives officers, a drum major, 120 musicians and 22 full-time members of its professional support staff.

Members are active-duty members of the Marines Corps serving under a four-year contract for military service.

The Coast Guard has a marching band and the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band, which operates for charitable purposes.

The United States Navy Band is based in the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., and has served since 1925 as the official music group of the service.

It serves the ceremonial needs at the seat of government, performing at presidential inaugurals, diplomatic arrivals and national holiday observances.

If you have a question for retired Capital-Journal newsman Dick King, call 295-5610 and leave a message, e-mail page2@cjonline.com or write to The Topeka Capital-Journal, 616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka 66607.