Your 9th Army band is busy performing over 50 musical missions this month. We are playing for Soldiers and families all around Army Alaska. This month we are taking time to enter our schools to participate in Music in our Schools Month, as well as a few other activities that have us in front our Nation's future leaders.  

You may ask why we do this? It's simple, we are Soldiers serving and representing Soldiers. We serve our country  with music. We hope by our musical excellence  and professionalism that we remind them of the dedication and hard work of our colleagues serving in their community and around the world protecting the freedom and the values we hold dear as Americans. Also, we live and work in their community and we enjoy being a part of the traditions, celebrations, and activities that they are apart of. We are citizens too! Finally, when we get to talk and motivate our youth...well its is truly awesome. The Soldiers of your Army are great role models. I love being a part of the Army team. I know I was inspired by the Army Musicians in my home state of West Virginia when I was growing up. The 249th Army Band(WV National Guard)  inspired me as a musician and kindled a fire in me to learn about and model good citizenship. I will always remember that and would love if I was also able to give that same spark to our Nation's youth.

Here are some recent news articles of how we have been able to be involved in the community with our youth.

1.) Soldiers help local troop earn music merit badge  by SSG Jason Epperson, 3rd MEB PAO, 

http://www.jber.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123245074

2.) USARAK musicians, students band together by SGT Tamika Dillard, 3rd MEB PAO,

 http://www.usarak.army.mil/main/Stories_Archives/Feb28-Mar4/110228_FS6.asp or http://www.jber.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123245069

3.) A page 3 article, 9th Army Band on the Road for Music in the Schools Month by Trish Muntean, Ft. Wainwright/PAO 

http://www.wainwright.army.mil/alaskapost/archive2011/2011publications/20110311-post.pdf

Until next time...Arctic Warrior, Arctic Tough

CW2 Jeff Price