F-Relax Time: 1991 Royal Tournament – Massed Bands
03.14.2009 at 12:21am
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Article Discussion:
How does such magnificent pageantry improve Britains national defense?
Pretty much the same way these guys improve ours, I suspect… LINK, LINK.
Geez Bill, call me naive but some of us would march to hell and back with a bit of musical pageantry as a backdrop.
I guess you’d have to query a psychologist or maybe a sociologist – but such displays are most certainly morale boosters – at least for me – and morale is most certainly a factor in regards to warfighting capabilities.
So in that sense, such displays do contribute to a country’s national defense.
Dave D.
Ken and Dave,
Thank you for the comments and the link. I agree with you both that Military bands can reinorce morale; however, can we use them to in other ways? Can we use them to send a variety of messages that might directly enable tactical, operational, or strategic plannning?
For example, a commander could establish a dialogue via music. This commander could use the band to develop a bond of goodwill, using the universal language of music, with an adversary who otherwise would not receive the commander’s views.
What message, in support of national defense, is Britian sending with this display?
Bill
Bill,
I have seen the 7th Fleet band perform all over Asia and they always draw crowds from the local population and put on a good show (and a wide variety of musical performances, not just the stereotypical martial music some expect). They provide an opportunity for the local citizens to see a side of the military that is not observed as well as a venue for engagement between US sailors and the local citizens. Everywhere I have observed them has been a positive experience for the local populace. Same goes for the 8th US Army Band in Korea. I am sure the other Fleet, Army, Marine, and Air Force bands have similar positive experiences.
Bill:
Consider the fact that the many organizations shown at the links I provided titillate folks in uniform hardly at all and that, knowing this, the bulk of their performances are for civilian audiences. Same thing applies to these guys LINK, LINK. Note that last link works for these folks LINK.
All those bands and the flying guys — that’s what they mostly work in support of as well. I suspect the same thing is true of much pageantry in the British Army — and the Royal Navy; check this one: LINK.
Civilians and kids lap that stuff up…