Active Duty - Army Strong Stories

Day 7 in Oslo

Thomas Palmatier — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:32:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
It was down to the last day of performances at the 2012 Norwegian Military Tattoo. Click here to see how Soldiers from The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" completed the final day's missions....read more

Tattoo Finale

Thomas Palmatier — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:28:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
The most anticipated moments of any military tattoo is the finale where all of the participants assemble on the arena floor. Soldiers from The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" are seen here in this great video by MSG Les Owen in the finale of the Norwegian Military Tattoo 2012....read more

Co-ed Ranger School: My thoughts

Hannah Guarendi He — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:58:00 GMT

By: Hannah Guarendi He
Just a few days ago marked the 69th anniversary of women serving in the US Army. About the same time, the Army Chief of Staff General Odierno announced that a plan is in place to permit females to attend Ranger school. The opinion storm that followed that announcement kind of depressed me. There are accusations that Ranger School in general is going to be "feminized", as in, made easier, either for the females or for everyone. Some say that Ranger School's mission of...read more

This is What a Tattoo Show Looks Like

Thomas Palmatier — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:48:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
Soldiers from The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" were featured performers at the Norwegian Military Tattoo in Oslo, Norway. To see the band's part of the show with some "behind the scenes" footage click here. There's tons of great pictures to include more "behind the scenes" shots as well -- click here. The best way to get new stuff and to learn of what else "Pershing's Own" is doing is to follow them on Facebook....read more

Blast from the Past

Thomas Harper — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:44:00 GMT

By: Thomas Harper
21 May 2012 (I carefully considered a title for my first post in 6 months. So carefully, in fact, that I decided on the same title as the miserable Brendan Fraser movie from '99. Hello $1.99 DVD bin.) Some of you reading this may have read my JAG OBC/DCC blog from February – June 2011. Others of you may have clicked on this particular blog for the first time as you saw it pop up on the Army Strong Stories...read more

Day 5 in Norway - Soldiers on Parade

Thomas Palmatier — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:06:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
The Soldiers of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" have returned from their performances in Oslo for the Norwegian Military Tattoo. Here's a link to the latest video by MSG Les Owen that shows the band on parade. While the parade started dry, it ended very wet. New photos can be found at the band's Facebook page. Are you going to be in Washington this summer? Be sure to check out free performances like Twilight Tattoo (most...read more

Quest for Truth and Justice - AR 15-6 Style

Christian Romeo — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:00 GMT

By: Christian Romeo
I was recently appointed as an investigating officer for a 15-6 investigation concerning possible adultery between two Soldiers in my battalion. I sort of think of 15-6 investigations as a rite of passage of sorts, along with completing a FLIPL. A big part of that is we've had so many of either going around recently, not to sound like we're a bad unit, we aren't, we just believe in investigating things other units might turn a blind eye to. Whether that's so all of us...read more

Gas Chamber, Gas Chamber Complete

Hannah Guarendi He — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:40:00 GMT

By: Hannah Guarendi He
This morning my company completed our annual NBC training requirement. This is quite possibly my least favourite day of the year. The dread the night before of knowing the next day you have to go through a gas chamber, the trying on of the gas mask that makes your face burn because the prior user didn't bother to clean it properly, making notes everywhere to remember to wear glasses instead of contacts......the whole process is just awful. Because this is a yearly requirement, some people...read more

First Blog Entry

Erica Chabalko — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:23:00 GMT

By: Erica Chabalko
I had heard about this sanctioned Army space for blogging, but only recently looked into what it had to offer. I have stepped back from posting on Facebook for two reasons. First, I find that I cannot concisely say something without sounding really negative - a blog would afford me the opportunity to elaborate on my thoughts. And secondly, Facebook has begun to annoy me with people giving their opinions on matters that I have strong opinions about. (I recognize this is...read more

At the Milblogging Conference

Hannah Guarendi He — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:18:00 GMT

By: Hannah Guarendi He
This past weekend I got to attend the Milblog Conference in Arlington, VA. For some reason they let me on a panel to talk about blogging in the military today, which kind of evolved into a discussion about what kind of social media bloggers are using today to get their stories heard. Many of the other people who were also on the panel had been blogging about the military for almost ten years, so I definitely felt a little out of place. On the other hand, I never really had to...read more

What's a Tattoo Anyway?

Thomas Palmatier — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:57:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
If you've been reading the posts about The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Oslo for the Norwegian Military Tattoo, you may be wondering what a tattoo is. Wikipedia's got a pretty good explanation: The original meaning of military tattoo was a military drum performance, but subsequently it came to mean army displays more generally. It dates from around 1600 during the Thirty Years' War in the Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands). The...read more

Videos --- Two for One

Thomas Palmatier — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:03:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
MSG Les Owen has posted two great video documentaries of the missions in Oslo, Norway by Soldiers of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own." Day 3 highlights include performances at the U.S. Embassy for Armed Forces Week. Day 4 shows clips from the dress rehearsal of the Tattoo. Look for more news, photos, and videos on the Band's Facebook page....read more

If it Ain't Rainin', We Ain't Trainin'

Thomas Palmatier — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:55:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
Friday is the day of the traditional Norwegian Military Tattoo parade and Soldiers of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" would proceed through the streets of Oslo, Norway. The parade began at the grounds of the Norwegian military fortress and the weather promised lots of Norwgian Sunshine," otherwise known as rain. Undeterred, the band proudly marched behind the Stars and Stripes carried by fellow Soldiers of "Pershing's Own." Soon...read more

Walking a Guard Post

Thomas Palmatier — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:46:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" continues to train and perform in Oslo, Norway for the Norwegian Military Tattoo. MSG Les Owens' documentary of Day 2 in country shows some of the historical sights of this NATO ally. Here is the royal palace, guarded by Soldiers of His Majesty's King's Guard. "Pershing's Own" works side by side with the 3rd U.S. Infantry "The Old Guard" who guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...read more

Good for another 6 months

Kendall Mower — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:11:00 GMT

By: Kendall Mower
Even though I had worked at the Surgeon General's Office before, I had always taken the PT test with one of the dental clinics near by. This time I decided to do it with my unit. It was pretty cool the way the staff here does the PT test - a little different then other units I have been in. Because of the size of the staff, and the demanding schedules, they put out a list of days and times that the PT test is offered. You pick the day and take the test. Since...read more

Armed Forces Day Abroad

Thomas Palmatier — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:52:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
The Soldiers of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" are in Oslo, Norway to represent America at the Norwegian International Military Tattoo. Because we are here during Armed Forces Week, we're fortunate to be able to support the U.S. Embassy as they host all of the Defense Attaches from around the world. The U.S. Army Brass Quintet arrived early to set up in the gardens behind the Ambassador's residence. Before the guests arrived, Ambassador...read more

Back in the Saddle

Wayne Wall — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:51:00 GMT

By: Wayne Wall
Well everyone, not sure if you've given up on me by this point but wanted to check back in with those of you who may still be monitoring after a very LONG absence. I reached a point somewhere in the middle of my deployment to Iraq where the work load was just too intense to consider taking time to pound out a blog. Besides, my brain was so mushy that I'm not sure I would have been able to give you anything worthwhile. That said, what I'd like to do now is give you the short...read more

West Point Band Performs with Juilliard Trombones

Philip Stehly — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:45:00 GMT

By: Philip Stehly
The West Point Trombone Ensemble performed alongside the Juilliard Trombone Choir this past Sunday at the Cadet Chapel in West Point, NY. This is the third time we’ve performed this concert, and it’s always a fun collaboration. The director of the Juilliard Trombone Choir is a guy by the name of Joe Alessi. I first met him about five years ago when he performed a solo with the West Point Band. I was nervous because Joe Alessi is not only a great trombone player, he’s the...read more

Getting to Work

Thomas Palmatier — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:38:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
Soldiers of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" were finally able to take the arena floor at the Oslo Spektrum, site of the Norwegian International Military Tattoo, to run through their show. There's always a bit of trepidation when you run a marching show on a new floor for the first time, especially when the stands are full of other performers looking to see "what you've got." New visual reference points, different equipment, and an unknown...read more

Oslo, Day 2

Thomas Palmatier — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:17:00 GMT

By: Thomas Palmatier
Soldiers from The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" had a few hours free today between rehearsals to see some of Oslo, Norway while preparing to headline in the Norwegian International Military Tattoo. This is Norway's seat of government, its parliament building. But like any Army unit, training never stops. This week The U.S. Army Woodwind Quintet will perform in support of a reception hosted by the Mayor of Oslo following the tattoo parade....read more