This is exactly correct. Each of the U.S. armed forces branches has at least one band, and the Army and Air Force have several. It appears that the Army may have several rock bands, in fact.
https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1633695/guide-to-us-military-bands-and-music/
AFAICT, all US military bands and other musical ensembles are composed of regularly enlisted or commissioned servicemembers. But a few of them are “premier ensembles” whose members have no duties other than being musicians.
Seems like waste to me. I’m sure the musicians are happy with the arraignment, but I fail to see how it benefits anybody else. If there’s a function that requires a rock band, they should just hire one. Stimulate the economy and save a buck.
As I understand it, the bands are seen by the military as a PR and recruiting tool; if they didn’t see a benefit, they wouldn’t do it.
What’s one more arraignment to this administration?
If one person enlisted having been influenced by the Army rock band I would be surprised.
shrug I don’t care to argue the point further.
Does anybody else want to justify the Army rock band? 
You might even call it “extraordinary magnitude”.
I think Military bands are not a Trump iniative.
Been around a long long time.
These rock bands? I haven’t listened to them, but I’ll bet they’re all good musicians and can perform well enough.
My cousin was in a Navy marching band. He retired after 10 or 12 years. Got a teaching certificate. Went on to be a band leader and music teacher.
Played trombone.
Of course. John Philip Sousa was the director of the Marine Band, over 100 years ago.
The point is that, for the most part, the only musicians which Trump could get to perform at his big party were ones which he could order to do so.
Really American would have been to have a Battle of the Bands in each state, and have the winners battle it out for the “Fair”.
I should hope so.
So the country is being entertained by the spectacle of some MMA gladiatorial combat in front of the White House. Does anyone know if they’re maybe distributing free bread as well? Maybe I’ll bring the kids.
Give out free stuff to the poors? Trump? Are you joking?
It’s “bullshit and circuses” these days.
Affordability is a woke socialist hoax!
But seriously, you’d think they’d learn from history. More than one Roman emperor had issues with availability and affordability of wheat. And let’s forget (urban legend though it is) what Marie Antoinette was reported to have said
This is the Straight Dope, after all: challenge accepted.
So, we’re talking about fewer than 300 servicepeople in all these premier ensembles, which have numerous and diverse roles in military ceremonies and state events.
If you’re willing to accept that military music ensembles have any valid role at all in a national military, I can’t see why you woiuld make a specific exception for the particular type of music (pop/rock, as played by the abovementioned Downrange group) that most people are most interested in listening to.
“Let them eat raw milk!”
There are occasions calling for military type music, and ceremonies where it’s expected. I still say, if there are times when only a rock or jazz band will do, hire a working band.
I’m as patriotic as they come, but there’s an awful lot to be worried about for USA250:
I’d first make sure there haven’t been any statues to Moloch erected.