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Oasis rocks the Rock

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 10-piece Air Forces Central band, Oasis, entertained the Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in an outdoor concert March 22. 

The band, one of two in AFCENT, is deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va. Oasis plays a variety of music including classic rock and Motown during their visits to bases throughout the AOR. 

"We've done several jobs, performing for British troops, Australian troops and American troops," said Master Sgt. Mike Shepperd, Oasis NCOIC and drummer. "We did a 12-day tour of Iraq, visiting forward operating bases." 

The band's mission is to provide morale support for deployed servicemembers, Sergeant Shepperd said. 

"It brings a little piece of home, let's them sit back, relax and enjoy some music they'd like to hear and just have a good time," said Sergeant Shepperd. "Get their minds off the busy ops tempo." 

Oasis wowed the crowd with songs from Santana, Steppenwolf and Steely Dan. Airman 1st Class Amy Aguilera, an Oasis vocalist originally from Chico, Calif., the band tries to have something for everyone. 

"We try to do a little bit of everything," she said. "I'm actually a jazz singer. I have a degree in jazz studies, I enjoy singing with the big band, but this has been a wonderful challenge to be able to come and sing with a rock band and test myself musically and sing something different." 

Airman Aguilera said the best part of being part of the band was seeing new things and meeting people across the globe. 

"The best of my job is meeting people, being able to meet new people from all around the world," she said. "From all the armed forces, to British forces, Australian forces and being able to talk to different people, share our experiences, what they've been through, where they're based, where they live, their family. We all have different backgrounds and our experiences are all very different. It's really awesome to meet and come together and fight the same fight."