List of United States Army Bands


The United States Army has maintained multiple military bands in its over two centuries of service. These bands provide musical support for military camps and bases, military areas, and communities across the mainland United States and other territories such as Puerto Rico. United States military bands also serve in army units outside the country and in regions such as Western Europe or Eastern Asia. There are currently 87 army bands, which consists of 15 active duty regional bands, 13 reserve bands, 51 National Guard bands, and four premier bands. Many bandsmen are trained as part of Band of the Army School of Music at Virginia Beach before their assignment in these bands.

Premier ensembles

EnsembleActivated
Garrison

U.S. Army Band
1922

U.S. Army Field Band
1946

Old Guard Fife
and Drum Corps
1960

West Point Band
1817

List of active regional bands

BandGarrison
City
United States Army Europe Band and ChorusSembach

List of Army Reserve bands

BandGarrison
City
78th Army BandJoint Base McGuire–Dix–LakehurstTrenton, New Jersey
100th Army BandFort KnoxKentucky
191st Army BandCamp ParksDublin, California
198th Army BandRochester, New York
204th Army BandVancouver, Washington/St. Paul, Minnesota
208th Army BandConcord, North Carolina
300th Army BandBell, California
312th Army BandLawrence, Kansas
313th Army BandRedstone ArsenalBirmingham, Alabama
338th Army BandFort McCoyWhitehall, Ohio/Livonia, Michigan
380th Army BandJoint Base Langley–EustisRichmond, Virginia
395th Army BandOklahoma City
484th Army BandMilwaukee, Wisconsin

List of Army National Guard bands

BandGarrisonCity
13th Army BandMiramar ArmoryMiramar, Florida
23rd Army BandWest Jordan, Utah
25th Army BandBoise, Idaho
28th Infantry Division BandHollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
29th Infantry Division BandTroutville, Virginia
34th Army BandFairfield, Iowa
34th Infantry Division BandRosemount, Minnesota
35th Infantry DivisionOlathe, Kansas
36th Infantry DivisionAustin, Texas
38th Infantry DivisionIndianapolis, Indiana
39th Army BandManchester, New Hampshire
40th Army BandColchester, Vermont
40th Infantry Division BandLos Alamitos, California
41st Army BandJackson, Mississippi
42nd Infantry Division BandCamp Smith (New York)Cortlandt Manor, New York
43rd Army BandLincoln, Nebraska
44th Army BandAlbuquerque, New Mexico
63rd Army BandSea Girt, New Jersey
Wheatland, Wyoming
73rd Army BandSt. Thomas, Virgin Islands
88th Army BandEast Greenwich, Rhode Island
101st Army BandBuckley Air Force BaseAurora, Colorado
102nd Army BandRockville, Connecticut
106th Army BandLittle Rock, Arkansas
108th Army BandPhoenix, Arizona
111th Army BandPearl City, Hawaii
116th Army BandMarietta, Georgia
122nd Army BandColumbus, Ohio
126th Army BandWyoming, Michigan
129th Army BandNashville, Tennessee
132nd Army BandMadison, Wisconsin
133rd Army BandTacoma, Washington
135th Army BandSpringfield, Missouri
144th Army BandChicago, Illinois
145th Army BandOklahoma City
147th Army BandMitchell, South Dakota
151st Army BandMontgomery, Alabama
156th Army BandBossier City, Louisiana
188th Army BandFargo, North Dakota
195th Army BandBangor, Maine
202nd Army BandFrankfort, Kentucky
215th Army BandFall River, Massachusetts
229th Army BandBaltimore
234th Army BandClackamas County, Oregon
246th Army BandColumbia, South Carolina
248th Army BandSan Juan, Puerto Rico
249th Army BandMorgantown, West Virginia
257th Army BandWashington, D.C.
287th Army BandWilmington, Delaware
440th Army BandMorrisville, North Carolina
721st Army BandBarrigada, Guam

Notable bands that existed in history

Colored bands

During World War I, the mobilization of all African-American bands became common. Among them was the Band of the 369th Infantry Regiment led by James Reese Europe who uniquely utilized black blues and jazz and notably introduced jazz to Europe. The 404th Armed Service Forces Band was the only all-black all-female band in military history. Other colored bands include the Band of the 107th Colored Infantry and the Band of the 805th Pioneer Infantry.

Women's bands

The first all-women military band, the Women's Army Band, was organized at Fort Des Moines in 1942 by Sergeant Mary Belle Nissly. By early 1943, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps had been at a capacity to where it could sport five bands:
  • 400th Army Band
  • 401st Army Band
  • 402nd Army Band
  • 403rd Army Band
  • 404th Army Band
WAAC bands were later redesignated and officially activated in the Women's Army Corps in January 1944. For a long time, the only Army Band made up of women, was the 14th Army WAC Band, which reported to the Women's Army Corps Training Center at Camp Lee in August 1948.

Mounted bands

In the first 100 years of the country's existence, mounted bands were relatively common in the ranks of military units. Mounted bands began to be assembled in the 1840s, taking multiple years to assemble. Mounted band that existed have included the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Mounted Band and the Mounted Band of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Mounted bands in the US Army were ultimately disbanded in the 1930s and 40s and by the end of the Second World War, there were no mounted bands left in the U.S.

Other bands