'Falcon' brings musical talent to Kirkuk

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq --  Through the strumming of a black acoustic guitar, backed by a driving drumbeat and booming brass instruments, Air Forces Central Band Falcon brought musical entertainment here Oct. 7 through 9.

The 10-piece Air Force band, currently deployed to Southwest Asia from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is on a tour that has taken their performances to various bases and locations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

"We're carrying on in the tradition of Maj. Glenn Miller, bringing a touch of home and some great music to the troops to bolster morale; that's one part of our job," said Staff Sgt. Matt Erickson, music director and noncommissioned officer in charge of the band.

The band also uses their musical talent to reach out to local communities. Sergeant Erickson said music is considered an international language that can help build relationships.

"Music can be used to build partnership capacity with the countries and communities we live and work in," he said. "In Kyrgyzstan, we spent three days off base playing at local universities, schools and a public concert ... music reaches people in a very positive way, that's part of what our mission is here at Kirkuk."

Out of their many performances, one particular concert stands out for Sergeant Erickson.
"The one that sticks in my mind right now is when we played for students at a school for the blind and seeing their reaction to the music and their intrigue with the instruments," he said. "It shows them that the United States and the military are here for a good reason and through music we're able to accomplish that."

Depending where they play, the band collaborates on a list of songs that will appeal to their audience.

"Normally, this group plays mostly classical music back at home at Offutt, but over here we adjusted that to a wider audience," Staff Sgt. Clint Whitney said. "We go off the billboard charts, play some oldies and we play stuff that is true to the roots of a military band."

While at Kirkuk, Falcon performed at the dining facility, the Clamtina Community Center, the Wagon Wheel stage and made a stop at the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's compound.

Master Sgt. Jon Conway, 506th ECES first sergeant, who is deployed here from the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., said their performance at the CE compound was a personal and emotional experience for some of the Airmen because of the band's direct interaction -- getting the audience to participate and sing along with familiar songs.

"For me, it was 'Sweet Home Alabama' because my parents live in Alabama. When they played that song, I thought a lot about home," Sergeant Conway said. "They played a wide range of music and I noticed ... people singing and mouthing the words and they started to really get into the music."

Sergeant Conway said he's grateful for what the band does for troop morale.

"When the band comes out and plays for the Airmen, it might be a song they hear all the time on the radio, but it has a much more personal feel when someone comes a long way just to play it for you," he said.

Through Falcon's many travels, Sergeant Whitney said he hopes they make deployed life a little easier for all the servicemembers they perform for.

"I always like to think that, from a troop standpoint, when we come to play for the men and women that are away from their families for six, nine or 12 months out of the year, that if we can make one more day or that week a little bit easier for them and bring a little taste of home, then we're successful," Sergeant Whitney said.

The Airmen hail from the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., under Air Combat Command Public Affairs, Langley Air Force Base, Va., and features Tech. Sgts. Jim Mangette on drums, Matt Dunsmore on euphonium, Hughey Hancock and Ryan Heseltine on horns, Staff Sgts. Mark Barnette on tuba, Ben Kadow and Matt Erickson on trombones, Jeff Reich and Eric Proper on trumpets and Clint Whitney on vocals and guitar. 

To view a slideshow of Falcon's performances, click here.