USAFE Band members pave way for relationships

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mara Title
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  During his first visit to Lajes Field Dec. 15-19, Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Sheaffer, the superintendent of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Wings of Dixie Band, couldn't help his amazement at the overwhelming friendliness he encountered.

"Everyone from the wing commander down has just welcomed us as if we're part of the family," he said. "At Lajes, we were told right away, 'Glad you're here, here's what you're doing, and this is the kind of impact you're making.'"

Not that they need any validation, but he said it's good to know they've accomplished what they've set out to do. In the case of Lajes, the mission was straightforward: Provide the gift of music for Airmen and their families as well as their Portuguese hosts. Breaking the language barrier, bands can connect with people from other countries in a very unique way.

"Music opens that door," said Sergeant Sheaffer. "The band has been asked to come and play in some difficult situations where communication was strained, and after the band played, doors were opened to foster dialogue. "

Someone who knows all too well about military bands playing a key role in foreign partnerships is Chief Master Sgt. Peter Aiello, the Air Force Band career field manager.

"Three days after the wall came down, we played at Templehoff Air station, the hub of the Berlin airlift during World War II."

Chief Aiello said the success of the concert in Berlin allowed them to perform in many Eastern countries, such as Poland, Hungary, the former Czechoslovakia and East Germany, where the band began to help build partnerships. He said the Air Force band broke the ice, enabling the U.S. to start exchange programs with foreign militaries of the countries they performed in.

It costs the Air Force nothing to train its musicians, because after the instrumentalists audition and are selected (which is a highly competitive process), they head to Basic Training and immediately to their first base.

"You can't go to school for six months and learn this job," said Sergeant Sheaffer. "When we come into the military, the Air Force expects us to be fully qualified," added Sergeant Sheaffer, who started playing at the age of 7. He spent many hours practicing, and his parents sacrificed financially for him to be a musician.

"While it can be difficult at times to look at a band member as a warfighter--because they may not be twisting the wrenches all day on the flightline--while we're out on deployments, we're put in some difficult situations," he said.

After all the extensive training band members go through to do their job effectively, it really pays off. For their last performance at Lajes in the community of Praia da Vitoria, the audience went wild with appreciation.

"And it was all because we took some music, we played it, and it really becomes almost a gift," said Sergeant Sheaffer. "When we show up, the only reason we're there is to give. We give a gift of music, and I think that breaks down barriers and opens up doors that may not have been there before."

The Wings of Dixie celebrate the American tradition of Dixieland jazz at every performance and is the only ensemble of its kind representing the United States Air Forces in Europe. It has been in existence for more than a decade.