Tech. Sgt(s) Tim Stombaugh and Jeff Valentine give students CDs April 1, 2011, at a school in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after their performance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)
by Tech. Sgt. Stephen Brannen and Master Sgt. Karl Bradley
AFCENT Band NCOIC & Operations/Logistics Representative
4/13/2011 - BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- The Air Forces Central band, Wild Blue Country, arrived here April 3, ready to take the sound of American country music to the people of Kyrgyzstan.
"One of the most important missions of the AFCENT band is to bring joy and goodwill to international partnering communities," said Senior Master Sgt. Jerome Oddo, the AFCENT band superintendent. "The international language of music can do that like no other public relations tool can."
Their first stop was one of 82 public schools in Bishkek, a band member said. The audience included students from all grade levels, as well as faculty and staff. The one-hour show demonstrated the professionalism of all the armed forces in the U.S. to a young and exuberant crowd.
"Even though we couldn't always understand the words," beamed a faculty member, "the emotion in your music conveyed so much to us about what you were saying. It truly helps build our partnership (with the U.S.)."
