September

22-24 September - MCAS Miramar Air Show - MCAS Miramar [More Information]

October

14 October - 1930 - 3rd MAW Band in concert at Point Loma Nazarene University - San Diego, CA

Performance Request Process

Start your request for musical support by filling out the appropriate request form below and sending it to SMB_3MAW_Band@usmc.mil for processing. All requests will be processed in the order received in a timely manner. If your request is approved, a representative from the band will reach out to you for coordination. If your request is denied, an email explaining why your request is not eligible to receive support will be provided.

events the band supports

Marine musicians perform a wide variety of military and civic events such as ceremonies, parades, festivals, public concerts, educational outreach, and professional sporting events. Music support utilizes a variety of ensembles including a wind ensemble, ceremonial band, brass band, jazz combo, popular music group, brass quintet, jazz ensemble, and bugler.

Public & Civic Events

Whether a traditional concert hall, outdoor venue or parade, military band performances must be free and open to the public. Marine Bands may perform at fairs, exhibitions and similar venues with admission fees if the performance is incidental to the primary event and no additional fee is charged to hear the band perform. Additional restrictions may apply. 

Policy and Legal Restrictions

1. U.S. Military participation does not imply endorsement of the event or the organization hosting the event. The requested information is required to evaluate the event. Please complete all sections.
    
2. Armed Forces musical units are organized for ceremonial and traditional purposes and to support recruiting activities. However, they may be authorized to provide certain specified presentations, such as patriotic ceremonies for public programs. Armed Forces musical organizations are not permitted to provide entertainment, background, dinner, dance or other social music at public or private events in competition with the customary or regular employment of local civilian musicians. Limited resources permit only one band and/or choir to perform at an event, and the Military Services reserve the right to cancel support to requesters who have scheduled more than one such military unit.
    
3. Department of Defense (DoD) policies require that Armed Forces participation in public events will be provided at no additional cost to the Government, which means un-programmed costs incurred solely because of participation in or support of an unplanned activity. For example, additional costs to the Government include unplanned travel and transportation, meals and lodging for military personnel away from Government mess, civilian per diem, and overtime pay. Unsolicited contributions of money, personal property, or services (e.g., gifts in kind for lodging, meals, transportation) may be accepted for the benefit of military musical units for events that align with the DoD's mission. All costs are binding after a unit, personnel, or exhibit has arrived at an event site, even though weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances force the event to be cancelled.
    
4. Requests should be submitted to the appropriate Military Service not less than 30 days in advance of a scheduled program. Final determination will occur no earlier than 90 days in advance. Please realize that all Armed Forces units have specific military missions and training requirements. Participation in public programs will only be authorized when such support is in the best interests of the DoD and the Military Services and does not interfere with mission or training programs. In all cases, operational commitments must take priority and can cause previously scheduled appearances to be cancelled.

The Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band's mission is to support the 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing by providing a professional product at military ceremonies and civilian events and providing security for the Tactical Air Command Center.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band was established for service during WWII. Soon after WWII ended, the band was deactivated and its   members were sent to serve in Marine units in China and at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. In 1952 the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band was officially reactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida in support of the Korean conflict.

In 1957, while the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing relocated to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California, the band remained in Miami and was assigned   to Marine Air Group (MAG) 31. Later, the musicians attached to MAG-31   were integrated into the Air Fleet Pacific Band in El Toro, California. It was at   this time the band received the title of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing remained at El Toro until 1997, when Naval Air Station Miramar was converted to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. From 1997 through 1999, all units relocated from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as part of the base realignment process. The band reported to its current location at MCAS Miramar in January 1999.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band has deployed numerous times throughout its history. In addition to the initial deployment to China in WWII, the band’s combat history includes a seven month deployment with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from October 1990 to April 1991. During that deployment, the band served as a perimeter security machine gun platoon and served in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Empire of Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The band returned to that same region in February of 1999 and 2000, to perform musical goodwill tours. During each of those tours, the band performed over forty concerts in the countries of Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and the Bahrain for thousands of people including United Sates Dignitaries and Arabic royalty. In February 2003, the band returned to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom for a four month deployment as a perimeter security platoon at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base. Among the few musical duties that the band was able to perform during the deployment was a concert at a palace of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Babylon, Iraq, marking the first American military band to perform in Iraq. Beginning in August 2004, the band assumed perimeter security for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) Compound at Al Asad in the Al Anbar province in Iraq. The musical highlight of the deployment was the First Marine Expeditionary Force Change of Command ceremony at Camp Fallujah I September 2004. The band returned to the United States on March 7, 2005. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing brought the band back to Al Asad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-2007 to perform perimeter security for the TACC Compound once again. The most recent deployment has been with the addition of troops to Afghanistan. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band has once again answered the call and sent a portion of its members to Camp Leatherneck, Helmond Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to perform security for Tactical A.R. Command Center Security.

Ceremonial Music (marines.mil)

Taps (marines.mil)

The Marines' Hymn

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