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AFCENT band serves as 'diplomats in blue' at embassy event

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
  • U.S. Air Forces Central
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates --  Diplomacy comes in many forms: sometimes it's a handshake, sometimes a compromise, and sometimes it's the U.S. Air Forces Central Band Afterburner.

The band played at a U.S. Embassy dinner celebrating Independence Day with hundreds of people representing dozens of countries.

Because of the hot weather in the summer, Americans in the United Arab Emirates celebrate the birth of the nation around Washington's Birthday in February, said Ambassador Michael Corbin.

"Americans from diverse backgrounds all celebrate our independence together," Corbin said in his opening remarks. "There's a similar spirit of community here in the U.A.E. and there are close links between our two countries."

He called the band's performance "part of cultural cooperation" with the United Arab Emirates.

"It's wonderful that we can show everyone a different part of our military," said Col. Pete Castor, a liaison officer to the embassy. "When most people think of the military, they think weapon systems, but our Airmen are also diplomats to the world. The band just does that a different way than the rest of us in uniform."

The band's trumpet player, Staff Sgt. Quincy Garner, said that's exactly what the band is for.

"We're diplomats in blue," he said. "Whether we're playing on a base to raise morale or playing at an event like tonight, it's all about showing a different side of the Air Force. Everyone loves to be entertained, so if we showed a few people that the American military is about more than just planes and bombs, then we did our jobs."

It meant a lot to one Emirati guest at the dinner. For Mohamad al Shamma, seeing musicians from the U.S. Air Force was "a different way for people to connect to Americans."

"This is the beauty of diplomacy," he said. "Everyone loves rock and roll and with all these people from all different nationalities, it really meant a lot to the audience. They certainly made this event better for everyone here."

Afterburner is the Air Force band currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. As the AFCENT band, the Airmen spend most of their three-month deployment traveling to installations around Southwest Asia. Afterburner has performed more than 70 shows for thousands of service members and civilians in five countries since Dec. 1, 2011.