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Rocking tunes: Strengthening ties, boosting morale

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Office
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The U.S. Air Forces Central Band ensemble, Night Wing, has been touring the local communities around the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing since Mar. 21, strengthening local ties as well as boosting the morale of military and civilian audiences of all ages.

The seven-member group deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., brought a wide variety of music, from today's Top 40 to rock-n-roll and country classics, to local children's hospitals, charity events for the disabled, for members of the U.S. Embassy, and their brothers- and sisters-in-arms at military camps in an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

"We've been going non-stop since we hit the ground here," said Master Sgt. Richard Baisden, Night Wing NCO in charge and lead guitarist. "Not only have we been able to entertain the military and civilians on the installations around here, we had the great opportunity to entertain kids at a children's hospital and a charity 5K. It's been a lot of hard work, but every minute has been worth it."

Each audience has been unique, Baisden said, so the band was able to delve into their vast music knowledge to find songs that appeal to each one.

"There are so many songs we can play that sometimes it's a challenge to keep the list manageable," he said. "We also gauge the crowd during the show and can take requests or add something if needed. Every show has been different, and that's something we really look forward to; we weren't expecting a mini-dance floor to suddenly spring up at the children's hospital, and we had a break dancing group decide to do some moves at the Embassy event during several of our numbers."

One of Night Wing's main missions is to boost morale of the men and women of the military services who are deployed overseas, said Baisden. They have held shows in theaters, flightlines, aircraft hangers and in pavilions - all to bring the gift of music and raise the spirits of those who listen.

"There are a lot of military out there who might get stuck in a rut when they deploy," said Airman 1st Class Lee Heerspink, Night Wing male vocalist and acoustic guitarist. "This is my first deployment, and I already can see that us coming to their bases makes a difference for them. It's something different, something that can give them an hour or two of entertainment and just make the day better. It's really great when we can also get some audience participation - especially from people who are usually so serious, they really get into the music!"

Not only are the audiences adding a special twist to shows, the trip itself has been memorable for most of the ensemble, many who have only been in the band - or the military - for a few years.

"This is actually a honeymoon for me and my husband Ryan," said Airman 1st Class Melissa Rager, Night Wing's female vocalist, married to Senior Airman Ryan Rager, pianist and keytarist. "We've been married for about two years now, and it's been so great for us to see all these different countries. People at all the venues have been so welcoming, and the support we've received from the 386th has been absolutely outstanding."

Unfortunately, the show must end at the 386th AEW; the curtain will come down after the last number and Night Wing will move on.

And while they're not sure where the next leg of their tour will step, "we definitely know that future locations will have to work hard to live up to everything we've seen here," said Baisden. "It's been a great start, and it can only get better!"