'Top Flight' to rock forward bases

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shad Eidson
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  A 10-member Air Force band plans to boost morale throughout Southwest Asia, entertaining coalition forces at several forward operating locations as well as main operating bases typically visited by other bands and civilian artists. 

Top Flight, the rock band component of the Band of the West at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, will travel with light acoustic equipment on Blackhawk helicopters to more isolated locations to perform for Airmen and other service members who can't get back to the main bases where the band will have larger performances.

"It's absolutely important to go out to those forward locations. They are the people who are doing the hard work and deserve a break and a thank you more than anybody else," said Tech. Sgt Jonathan Packard, NCO in charge of the band and bass guitarist and vocalist.

"We deploy just like everybody else," Sergeant Packard said.  "We go through combat skills training, weapons qualifications and all of the medical hurdles that everybody jumps through."

After Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors have been deployed and away from home for a few months, Air Force bands step in to boost morale, said Master Sgt. Don Friedly, the band's operations representative. 

"We attempt to create a show that will change their mood for a minute, take them home or take their minds off of what they're doing and then send them back to their environment with just a little bit higher spirits," said Tech. Sgt. Donna Siler, band vocalist who retrained from information management in 1996 after completing two tours in Tops In Blue.

The band has scheduled stops at more than 15 locations with one large evening show at each,  They hope to have time go to work centers and do performances for the shift workers who can not get out, Sergeant Friedly said. The band is prepared to do 30 to 40 performances while deployed, he said.

"We bring lots of extra strings, oil, reeds and backup redundant gear for just about everything we have," Sergeant Packard said.

"Being able to play a show with absolutely minimal preparation time, and no one knowing the difference, is a testament to the Air Force band program and the professionals involved across the entire career field," Sergeant Packard said. "Musicians in this career field are not what you find in your average bar band."

"I felt I needed to do something. And it's a really good cause bringing a little hope and home to people who are overseas," said Airman 1st Class Melissa Plotkin who volunteered to join the band as a vocalist instead of playing her French horn with the Band of the West Concert Band here.

"We want to be able to reach as many of the deployed troops there, show our support and let them know all the support that is being shown back home," said audio engineer Staff Sgt. Nick Wellman who will be deploying for the first time with the band.