Armed Forces Medleys

[TUBAD83]

According to AR (Army Regulation) 220-90 and DODD (Department Of Defense Directive) 1005.8 ORDER OF PRECEDENCE:
Army
Marines
Navy
Air Force
Coast Guard

Hope that is official enough for ya

JJ

Actually, this is not the official word because it is incomplete. The excerpt from AR 220-90 is as follows:
From Section II, 2-5, para g.

g. Songs of other Services. The following guidance will be followed in the performance of the official songs of the Armed Forces of the United States:
(1) Other Service songs will be accorded the same courtesies extended to “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” as stated in paragraph 2–5f.
(2) In accordance with DODD 1005.8, the order of performance (see para 2–5g(3), below) for Service songs is: (a) Army: “The Army Goes Rolling Along.” (b) Marine Corps: “The Marine’s Hymn.” (c) Navy: “Anchors Aweigh.”
(d) Air Force: “Official U.S. Air Force Song.” (e) Coast Guard: “Semper Paratus.” (3) The normal method of performing service songs will be in the above order. However, certain occasions may call
for the order to be reversed, such as in a medley featuring “The Army Goes Rolling Along” as the finale. This is
authorized as long as the relative order of songs is maintained. Only medleys containing the service songs in an approved order of precedence will be performed by Army bands.
(4) In cases where not all Services are represented (tri-service commands, as an example) it is permissible to omit the songs of the Services not represented. The remaining service songs will be performed in their order of precedence. (5) When performing at veteran’s events, the official song of the U.S. Merchant Marine, “Heave Ho! My Lads,
Heave Ho!” may be added to the service medley. It will be placed in precedence after “Semper Paratus.”

I provided a simple direct answer to a direct question and gave the regulations as a reference. Why do we have make things more complicated than they need to be? Lets try, REALLY try to use the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Thank you

[chhite]

How about, let's keep it correct. Many of us on this BBS make our living by performing these service songs properly and protocol is a very big deal. One must make certain that the "only" or "official" way is actually so and backed up by doctrine, in this case AR 220-90. I am a stickler for these details and when I see the protocol breached or pushed aside, which it was not entirely in this case, I choose to set the matter straight. Keeping it simple is not always the correct path to choose. No venom implied or attached, just a desire to share knowledge and the resources available.

[Bob Kolada]

Did you guys not have the same exact thing posted up?

[Dan Schultz]

Thanks for all the information and comments. I still have a question, though....

The order or performance that has been cited is with respect to the US Army Band Manual...
a) Army
b) Marine Corps
c) Navy
d) Air Force
e) Coast Guard

Does the US Army dictate the performance order to all other branches of service and their service bands? ... or does this just apply to Army functions?

Might as well keep this kettle boiling?

[David Richoux]

I didn't find anything specific in this document:
MARINE CORPS BAND MANUAL which seems to be from 2004. Lots of very interesting info in that!

the only mention of service songs in that manual (that I can find) is:

5201. OFFICIAL AND CEREMONIAL MUSIC.

2. Official and Ceremonial Music includes, but is not limited to,
National Anthems, “Ruffles and Flourishes,” “Hail to the Chief,”
“Hail Columbia,” “Honors March,” “Flag Officers March,” “Generals
March,” the Service songs and various national and international
marches (Sousa, King, etc.).

(and I think that is just regarding what sheet music should be kept in the band library.)

for much, much, more than I am going to go into at this juncture, http://drummajor.net/1Manuals.htm has links to all sorts of military band manuals. Good hunting!

[pgym]

Might as well keep this kettle boiling?

As long as we're keeping the kettle boiling, we might as well note that:

a) DODD 1005.08, from which the order set forth in AR 220-90 is derived, deals narrowly and specifically with the order of precedence of members of Armed Forces of the US "WHEN IN FORMATIONS", which begs the question of whether it extends to situations where members are NOT in formation; more importantly,

b) the DOD cancelled DODD 1005.08, on which the order of precedence specified in AR 220-90 is based, on 01/18/2007; and, most importantly,

c) while DOD issuances and the regulations of the various Armed Services govern the practices and protocols of DOD/AS personnel and of DOD civilian employees in the course of performing their duties—and while many civilians choose to follow those protocols out of respect for the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces—the practices and protocols mandated in those issuances and regulations necessarily yield to a civilian's First Amendment right of free expression to order the Service Anthems in any order he or she chooses.

[b.williams]

When I was in the Navy we played Anchors Aweigh last. Fleet bands have a different mission than the DC band or the USNA band. Additionally, each service has its own regulations and traditions. Army regulations do not apply to the other branches.