Band of the Rockies becomes academy band Published Sept. 5, 2003 PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- The U.S. Air Force Band of the Rockies will be renamed The U.S. Air Force Academy Band on Oct. 1. The band will continue its primary mission of "troop support" while refocusing its national touring mission to support the recruiting and community relations needs of the academy.This move realigns the Band of the Rockies back under the Air Force Academy following its previous realignment under Air Force Space Command in 1993. Before that, the band was assigned to the academy. The band's headquarters will remain here, according to officials.While the band will get a name change, it will retain the distinction as the only Department of Defense “premier” musical organization not located on the East Coast.Air Force officials believe the move will bring the Air Force into alignment with the other services. The academy has been the only service academy without an active-duty band since the band’s realignment in 1993.