Operational Support
The public image of Royal Air Force Music will always remain that of concerts and parades around the country, along with the traditional State events so popular with tourists. However, as serving members of the Royal Air Force, our Musicians do also have other duties which take them to rather less familiar environments both in the UK and around the world, providing both musical support (entertaining the troops...) and taking part in military operations.
Entertaining the troops is very much the remit of the Band of the RAF Regiment, and their soul and blues group 'TNT Soul Explosion', who, through their Theatre of Operations Tours, are undertaking an increasing variety of overseas tours to operational theatres where members of the British Armed Forces are now deployed. Each Theatre of Operations Tour only lasts around two weeks so it can be quite a punishing schedule for the musicians, with over one ton of equipment, instruments and associated sound system to set up at each venue. Indeed, with such 'front line gigs' often taking place in the desert where facilities will always be somewhat limited, it is often only through the enthusiastic logistical support of our 'audiences' that the show always goes on.
For RAF Musicians in recent times, operational deployment first occurred 1991 with the deployment of the entire RAF Music Services from the UK on active service as medical orderlies to Operation Granby, the 'first' Gulf War.
In 2003 the Royal Air Force began deploying individual Musicians to support operations around the world. These roles include aircraft guards, watchkeepers, packet or convoy commanders, air cargo and passenger handling. The theatres currently being covered are Afghanistan, The Balkans and the Falkland Islands with many Musicians having served in the now complete Operation Telic in Iraq. In addition to these individual roles the Bands retain their connection with medical duties as each band is trained to support field hospitals as casualty de-contamination teams. In a more recent development is that Musicians are now being detail to provide admin back-up to exercises in the United Kingdom
As well as the operational deployments musicians can be used within the United Kingdom to support the community. In this role members of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force undertook the role of substitute firemen in Operation Fresco.
These operational commitments continue with Music Services personnel serving overseas today and for the foreseeable future.