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Musicians rehearse different kind of performance

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Jamie Goodpaster
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
FORT DIX, N.J. --  More at home in a concert hall, Capt. Chad Steffey crawled on his belly through mud and rain. Thirty-five pounds of combat gear clung to his woodland battle dress uniform as he peered through night-vision goggles.

Captain Steffey, commander of the Band of the Air Force Reserve, and nine other band members focused on fine-tuning their weaponry skills on lethal M-16A2 rifles rather than musical instruments March 12-24 during participation in the Air Force Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course 07-2B.

In June, the captain will make history as the first Band of the Air Force Reserve officer to deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Captain Steffey and the others will stay overseas 60-90 days before returning to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where they are based.

The band's mission is to provide professional musical support to the armed forces to benefit morale, welfare, recruiting and retention and community relations.

"This highly specialized and realistic combat training drove home the fact that each of us is an Airman first and an Air Force Reserve Band musician second," Captain Steffey said.

He said one of the most important skills the bandsmen gained was the confidence in knowing they will be able to fight and survive if called upon to do so.

"All Airmen should be required to have these skills before any deployment into a hostile environment, regardless of Air Force specialty code," Captain Steffey said. "This training has provided each member of the Reserve band a true appreciation and empathy for the troops they will be entertaining and serving."

Other band members also picked up on the rhythm of a new assignment.

Senior Airman Heidi Dickinson, a traditional reserve vocalist with the band, noted that she now has a realistic idea of what to expect in the AOR and how physically and mentally challenging a combat environment really is.

The 10 band members were students in the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course, which integrates classroom and realistic field instruction on the training ranges here. The 421st Combat Training Squadron, Expeditionary Operations School, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, teaches the course.

ACST gives warfighters essential skills to survive in a combat environment, according to Master Sgt. Dean Steele, a lead cadre member of the course. He noted that the class provides practical hands-on training versus two-dimensional computer-based training.

"The course is designed to be as realistic as possible and drive home skills that may one day save one life, or many," Sergeant Steele said.

His cadre has received positive feed back not only from people who went through the course but also from people who returned from the AOR where they relied on the combat skills lessons learned to keep themselves safe.

"Through ACST, Airmen know how to react and survive in a real-world combat situation," Sergeant Steele said.

ACST prepares Airmen from multiple expeditionary combat support career fields with the skills needed to operate in the CENTAF AOR. Core classes in ACST include tactics and patrolling, convoy operations, military operations in urban terrain, combat media skills, cross-cultural communication, self-defense, combat first aid and use of night-vision goggles.

Deploying Airmen must perform not only their jobs but may be called upon to perform other radically different roles, such as driving in a convoy or operating heavy weapons on Humvee vehicles.

To prepare for deployment, ACST instructors recommend Airmen read the Army Basic Soldiering Skills manual. The ACST curriculum is based on the manual.

Master Sgt. Scott Gunn, a bagpiper with the band, said he is grateful for the ACST course.

"The combat training will be invaluable if I'm alone and need to defend myself in a hostile situation," said Sergeant Gunn.

The bagpiper will essentially be a one-man band, playing at ceremonies honoring fallen service members, among other special events. He plans to travel alone to outlying regions in the AOR where Soldiers and Airmen members typically have few entertainment choices.

The Band of the Air Force Reserve has a proud tradition of performing worldwide on tours such as the annual Operation Season Greetings where it provides holiday cheer to military people stationed overseas.

Most of the band members will deploy for 60 days, as opposed to their average three-week deployments. Throughout the deployment, the 10 band members will be joined by Air National Guard bands from Illinois and Texas.

Troop morale performances will be given at dining facilities, clubs, work facilities, rest and relaxation stations, embassies and local community groups.

Captain Steffey said there are plans for a "CENTAF Idol" a spin-off of the popular "American Idol" television show. He expects the contest to be a boost to troop morale.

For Airman Dickinson, the mission will be an opportunity to share the universal language of music and strengthen cultural bridges.

"The band will go a step further when serving those deployed in the CENTAF AOR," said Airman Dickinson. "Each of us will be trying to reach the warfighters and give them a sense of comfort, peace, rest and joy to rejuvenate their mind, body and spirit."