Air Force band 'Max Impact' rockin' the USA in the Middle East

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tony Spain | Air Force Master Sgt. Ryan Carson, lead male vocalist for Max Impact, sings a song during a performance at Kandahar Airfield March 25. Max Impact is a premier rock band in the U.S. Air Force Band's ensemble that has been entertaining troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Tony J. Spain)  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

03.30.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Tony Spain 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

Story and photos by Army Sgt. Tony J. Spain
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Deployments in Afghanistan can become long and dull from the same old routine day in and day out, but troops here were rocked out of their daily rhythms March 25.

Singing their way through the Middle East on a 45-day tour with stops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force Band's premier rock group, "Max Impact," brought Soldiers and Airmen a little taste of home by performing cover songs from a variety of genres.

"We hopefully are engaging the troops and helping them forget about the day-to-day grind, where it seems like everyday is the same day," said Air Force Master Sgt. Ryan Carson, lead male vocalist. "We are hoping to just get people's minds off their day-to-day task as well as the stresses of what's going on over here, even if it is for an hour and a half."

Featuring a male and female vocalist, lead and bass guitarists, keyboard player and a drummer, Max Impact likes to bring audience participation into their performance.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Cuney S. McLean, 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Jay Creel, 301st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron of Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., found themselves on stage in a dance competition. Creel was judged the winner by applause of the crowd.

"It was a lot of fun, a change of pace," said McLean.

Stationed at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., Max Impact is about two years old and was created with troop morale in mind. It is one of eight bands in the Air Force.

"We wanted to get a group that related to the troops that are out in the field, and we wanted to be able to get to them," said Air Force Master Sgt. Regina Coonrod, lead female vocalist.

Performing in combat zones is what this group is designed to do, she added.

• Date Taken: 03.30.2007
• Date Posted: 04.02.2007 10:36
• Story ID: 9714
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF