Courtesy Photo | Senior Airman David Fatek, U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band member, performs for...... read more read more
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By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
DJIBOUTI - The 9-Piece U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band "Live Round" kicked off the Djibouti leg of its southwest Asia tour with a one-hour show Tuesday morning at Djibouti's national police academy.
The band is a blend of members from the U.S. Air Force Academy Band based in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
The ensemble performed before about 100 members of the tiny nation's police force and police department's administration.
Live Round's good-will effort fostered stronger relations between local law enforcement and the American military community based out of nearby Camp Lemonier, said Capt. Christopher Crim, 3rd Latitude Air Defense Battalion commander, Bravo Battalion commander. The camp is part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
Captain Crim's Marines protect a portion of the camp in conjunction with the local police force.
"It's always work, work, work. This gives us a chance to get to know each other in a non-work environment," Captain Crim said.
The hour-long show certainly gave Djibouti policemen, American Marines, Soldiers and Airmen different perspectives on each other as they sat together, clapped and even danced to a few songs.
The band's brass section brought the crowd to its feet when they marched through the crowd playing Herbie Hancock's hit "Chameleon."
According to Djibouti police Lieutenant Abdillahi Ibrahim Nour, director of the police academy, the show was a huge success.
"Even though many of our French-speaking policemen couldn't understand the words, the music spoke to us," said Lt. Nour. "I feel like we understand the Americans better now and we have a better relationship."
For the band, it was a home run as well. "It gave validity to our reason for being here and that is to deepen relationships," said Tech. Sgt.
Victoria Bruyette, Live Round singer.
The band has nine shows scheduled during their five-day African community relations effort, with only one show on an American installation.
| Date Taken: | 01.22.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2008 12:22 |
| Story ID: | 15673 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 391 |
| Downloads: | 375 |
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