AFCENT Band Galaxy ends stint in desert on a high note

Published May 25, 2016
By Sgt. 1st Class Patricia Deal
Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- The U.S. Air Forces Central Command band, Galaxy, recently completed their 90-day deployment at Al Udeid, but the effect their music had on U.S. military, Coalition and host-nation relationships left a lasting impression.

The AFCENT Band’s mission goals are tied directly to Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr’s, AFCENT commander and the Combined Forces Air Component Commander’s top three priorities—developing relationships. Through their music, the AFCENT band shares U.S. culture and values providing an accompaniment to the partnerships between military commanders, Embassy leaders and Coalition partners.

“The nice thing about these kinds of events is that as a key-leader engagement that invites our Afghan and coalition partners in, there's no agenda. It is purely relationship building,” said Col. Robert Epstein, chief of staff for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing. “That’s important because it allows us to build a solid friendship that makes it a lot easier to talk work afterwards.”

AFCENT bands are part of 10 active duty Air Force bands and five Air National Guard bands which feature professional musicians. Each band operates within its own geographic area of responsibility, and serves to inspire, honor and connect more than six million listeners at over five thousand live and televised performances worldwide each year.

“While a band’s mission covers troop support and projecting a positive image of the Air Force and the U.S., community outreach is an important part of our job as we strive to build relationships on- and off-base,” said Capt. Shanti Simon, AFCENT band officer-in-charge. “Whether they were playing on the deck of a Navy ship or under a tent in the desert, the AFCENT Band used music to reach and bring together U.S. military, Coalition partners, and members of our host-nation communities.”

During the historic 25th Anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait in February, Galaxy gave 16 performances in seven days, reaching more than five million viewers via television and radio.

The band’s performances for high-level Kuwaiti government and military contacts, schools, TV and radio programs, cultural centers, embassy families and U.S. military personnel aboard the USS Arlington exceeded expectations in helping to increase public support for the U.S. military presence in Kuwait, according to Mark Bosse, information officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.

“It’s important to strengthen our relationship with the host nation,” said Bosse. “We can continue to benefit militarily, from bilateral cooperation,” he said.

The band’s performance was well received by the Kuwaitis according to Gill Sherry, editor at CityPages Kuwait.

“Their passion for developing relationships was as evident as their musical talents and it’s no wonder they take such pride in their ongoing support of both the welfare and morale of joint-combined forces across the globe,” said Sherry.

Due to their popularity and demands by the Kuwaitis, Galaxy was invited back to play live on the Kuwait radio Station Marina FM.

“Before the AFCENT Band came, the U.S. Embassy could not get on the radio. The stations were asking them to pay for spots and it was difficult to get our messages out to the communities,” Bosse said. “The AFCENT Band opened that door and now the Embassy is welcome back anytime.”

In April, AFCENT’s Galaxy was the first AFCENT band in over a year to tour Afghanistan, performing for more than 900 Afghan, Coalition and American service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport—one mission alone included a performance for representatives from 12 countries.

A chief master sergeant from the Afghan Air Force said, “These [events] are really good. They help us to build a relationship in which we can better understand each other. These kinds of programs and concerts can change that by really growing a strong bond between us.”

The role that AFCENT bands have at uniting U.S. and foreign audiences has not gone unnoticed by one Coalition partner. Amanda, a sergeant who works in the Headquarters of the 83 Expeditionary Air Group, supporting the United Kingdom Command Team, said the AFCENT band lifted unit morale.

“They are a complete boost to detachment morale—allowing Service personnel to feel not so far away from normality by their amazing 'world class' performance,” Amanda said. “They are so enthusiastic. They involve the crowd, provide a great atmosphere and smash out some outstanding vocals and instrumentals to boot.”

While Galaxy has returned home, Max Impact, the Air Force’s Premier Rock Band from Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. is carrying on where Galaxy left off, building partnerships and developing relationships throughout the region. They are currently in Egypt and have performances slated for Jordan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and in Qatar over the next month.

Max Impact has more than 20 years of deployment experience amongst the seven-members of the group, according to Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Carson, vocalist and non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

“Our mission is to build partnerships, inspire and make a positive impression on every audience we play for,” Carson said. “Music is powerful. It’s wrought with meaning, and as a universal language, will help achieve our senior leader priorities in the AOR.”