392nd Army Band
Ensembles
Swingin’ Amiss
Swingin’ Amiss Dixieband is a Music Performance Team that brings the spirit of New Orleans to any event, no matter the size. This six-person group provides musical support for various types of events in the Fort Lee and central Virginia area. Its members’ backgrounds range from first-term to career Army Musicians. If you need a little Louisiana flavor for your event, Swingin’ Amiss will knock it out of the park!
Brass Quintet
In addition to ceremonial performances, the Colonial Brass and Appomattox Brass Quintets perform classic, ceremonial and popular music for the Fort Lee communities and the Central Virginia area. Much of their current repertoire was arranged by members of the Army music field and they are ready to support a wide variety of events and venues whenever called upon.
Mandatory Fun
Whether it’s classic standards, popular tunes that you hear on the radio, or R&B, Mandatory Fun is sure to please any audience. This group performs for military ceremonies, informal functions, festivals, and on the big stage both on Fort Lee and the communities in Virginia.
550 Chord Vocal Quartet
550 Chord Vocal Quartet is a part of the 392nd Army Band stationed at Fort Lee, VA. They provide musical support for all kinds of events and venues throughout the Fort Lee community and Central Virginia area. Given an opportunity to tell the US Army story and promote patriotism across the country, they will provide musical support almost anywhere in the United States.
Ceremonial Band
The 392nd ceremonial band engages with communities by performing in parades, at community run/walks, and at other public events. The ceremonial band also performs in official military ceremonies to provide musical enjoyment as well as serve traditional functions within the ceremonies.
Concert Band
The 392nd Army Band’s 40-piece concert ensemble enjoys performing at functions such as Fort Lee’s annual 4th of July celebration, winter holiday productions on Fort Lee and in surrounding communities, commencement ceremonies, and historical events, among many others. The concert band performs traditional marches in addition to classic and current concert band repertoire.
Community organizations
Fill out and email the Request for Fort Lee Support Form to the Fort Lee Public Affairs Office
For more information, visit the Public Affairs Office website
Military organizations
Fill out and email the Request for Support to Band Operations
or
Call Band Operations at (804) 734-4323
Policy for Requesting the 392nd Army Band
If you are interested in requesting the 392nd Army Band for a performance, please review Army Regulation 220-90 to see if your event meets the basic requirements for musical support.
Regarding military ceremonies, as per Army Regulation 220-90, the 392nd Army Band provides ceremonial support for change of command ceremonies at the level of O-5 and above, installation change of responsibility ceremonies (at the E-9 level installation Command Sergeant Major and equivalents or higher), and individual retirement ceremonies at the level of O-7 and above. Musical support is provided to periodic military installation retirement ceremonies. Therefore, individual retirement ceremonies for persons not in positions listed above are not authorized musical support.
Ceremonies for Fort Lee and other Army installations take precedence over ceremonies for other services. If your event appears to meet the basic requirements, you may then request the 392nd Army Band by filling out the electronic form below. When you have filled Form FT Lee 300-1 in all necessary information, please submit to usarmy.lee.tradoc.mbx.leee-bandops@mail.mil. In order to ensure prompt consideration of your request, please be as complete as possible.
In accordance with Army Regulation 220-90, all military requests must be submitted at least 45 days in advance of the requested performance date. Requests under this time frame require a Letter of Lateness signed by the first military O-6 (or civilian equivalent) in the requesting organization's chain of command. Late requests cannot be processed until the Letter of Lateness is received. Late requests (and the Letter of Lateness) are forwarded to Garrison Fort Lee for consideration as an exception to policy, and may not be approved. Submitting a Letter of Lateness does not guarantee approval or musical support.
Civilian requests must be submitted at least 60 days in advance of the requested performance date. Late civilian requests can still be submitted, but support is not guaranteed and all other requests will take priority.
In accordance with Department of Defense fiscal guidance, if the location is not within the immediate geographical area (approximately 100 miles of Fort Lee, Virginia), transportation, meals, and lodging (if needed), will, in most cases, need to be provided by the activity that is requesting the band.
Upcoming Performances
Audio/Downloadable Music
To download a copy of the following audio files/music, right click and "Save Link as" or "Save target as".
Ceremonial Music
Bugle Calls
The 392nd Army Band of Fort Lee carries on a proud musical heritage dating back to the volunteer musicians of 1773 and Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys fife and drum corps of 1775. The history of bands on Fort Lee began with the formation of the first Quartermaster School Band in July 1942. The band was redesignated as the 392nd Army Service Forces Band on March 15, 1944 and was assigned to Camp Lee, Virginia on May 3, 1946. Chief Warrant Officer Henry H. Gruver was the Commander and Master Sergeant Robert J. Longley was the Enlisted Bandleader. The band only had six of its original soldiers from Edgewood when it reported to Camp Lee, but eventually achieved its full strength of 28 players which broadened its scope and function.
The 392d had a weekly radio spot for the Troop Info Program on WSSV, Petersburg. Within the unit they had compiled an 18-piece dance band, a nine-piece combo, a seven-piece combo and a five-piece combo to cover entertainment at the different clubs and dances on post and throughout the local communities.
The 392d Army Service Forces Band was redesignated on June 11, 1946 as the 392d Band. On January 15, 1947 the Army appointed Camp Lee as the Headquarters of a Band Replacement Detachment with CPT Charles Brewton commanding, 1LT Howard W. Willett Executive Officer, and 1SG Raymond Collins the Enlisted Bandleader. The detachment was responsible for training and assigning all Army Bandsmen. At this time the unit size averaged about one thousand men.
On May 15, 1947, the 392nd Band was once again redesignated the 392nd Army Band and was allotted to the regular Army on December 20, 1951. During its early years here the 392nd shared the spotlight with the only Army Band made up entirely of women, the 14th Army WAC Band. Activated at Fort Meade, Maryland in August 1948, the 14th reported to the Women's Army Corps Training Center at Camp Lee in March the following year. Its commander was WOJG Katherine V. Allen, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music. She also attended the Boston Conservatory, University of Virginia, and The College of William and Mary. Under WOJG Allen's command the 14th Army WAC Band toured many different regions including the Fifth Army area of responsibility, Hollywood, California, and the Rose Bowl Parade in 1951.
Today the 392nd Army Band is on call seven days a week to support military, civic, and recruiting commitments. This 40-piece ensemble has played for two presidents, one first lady, and numerous national, state and local dignitaries. The band has received numerous accolades and has played for many dignitaries in an effort to promote a positive military image in the Appomattox Basin and abroad. Whether for a military review, a high school assembly, or a retirement community, the next performance is always the most important.
The mission of an Army band is to promote and maintain the military formation, formal concerts, and recreational activities. However, there is more to the Army band than just its military obligations. The 392nd Army Band also has the distinction of being of being a very visible Goodwill Ambassador to its surrounding civilian communities. This has been demonstrated by annual performances for such community activities as the Richmond St. Patrick's Day Parade, The State Fair of Virginia, 'Patriotism Day,' The Virginia 'First Thanksgiving Celebration' and the many local arts and crafts festivals and community appreciation days that are supported on a recurring basis. The band has a wide repertoire to fill almost any requirement one might have. The musical variety ranges from big band to modern pop, military martial, classical transcriptions, country and western and contemporary rock and roll. Each concert is specifically tailored toward the expected audience.
