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AFCENT Band Reserve Generation rocks Bagram Airfield

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  The sounds of music filled the air as members of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band, 'Reserve Generation,' stopped in as part of a two-month tour of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility April 15-20, 2010.

Bagram Airfield was one of the last stops for the band, deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., whose members play a mix of rock 'n' roll, pop and country, and even some requests said Tech. Sgt. David Vittetoe, Reserve Generation drummer.

"We have been traveling around playing for deployed Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines, and civilians," said Sergeant Vittetoe. "We are just hoping to give them a few minutes to forget where they are and just enjoy themselves; that is our ultimate goal."

Airman 1st Class Jill Diem, vocalist, said this is her first deployment, and it has been an eye opening one. "You get to see what the troops are doing first hand and provide some morale opportunities and put a smile on their faces, and that has been a very rewarding experience."

Reserve Generation played at a variety of squadron functions to include lunch at the dining facility and an open show at the Bagram Morale, Welfare and Recreation Clamshell. The highlight for Senior Airman Josh Byrd, guitarist, came when the band played an all acoustic set at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital. "Bringing a smile to those people's faces for what they do was just an honor and a privilege."

Airman Byrd explained since the inception of the Air Force Band in 1941, the bandsmen have been traveling anywhere troops deploy to boost morale and give people a chance to relax and enjoy a little taste of home through music, a tradition he is proud to be a part of.

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Luft, 455th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, enjoyed the band at several locations and said he really appreciated Reserve Generation taking the time to travel throughout the AOR to boost morale for his fellow servicemembers. "I think they are great and it's nice that they play a variety of music so everyone can get a little taste of
something they like."

Sergeant Luft, deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan, said it was great having them here because it is something out of the norm of the every day mission and it gives people a chance to decompress from the stress of being in a combat zone.

She added, "No matter where we go, everybody loves Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd."

Airman Diem said the band has really enjoyed their time playing for a wide spectrum of audiences on their tour and each location has been enjoyable and memorable. "We have sung for local nationals, civilians, ambassadors, princes, astronauts and the troops and it has been really amazing."