ABOUT
The 300th Army Band — Southern California’s only Army Reserve Band — is a dynamic 40-member ensemble under the command of CW3 Jeff Smith. As a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Reserve and the 63rd Readiness Division, the band performs at a wide range of events, including military ceremonies, public concerts, community festivals, educational outreach programs, and appearances on radio and television. The 300th’s mission is to strengthen public support for the Armed Forces, aid diplomatic efforts around the world, and inspire Soldiers with the will to fight and win.
The band’s repertoire is as diverse as its mission, featuring marches, classical works, overtures, popular music, patriotic selections, and instrumental and vocal solos. At the heart of the 300th is its flagship Concert Band, but the unit also fields a variety of smaller ensembles — including pop, jazz, and chamber groups — offering dynamic performances that captivate audiences of all ages.
Soldier-musicians of the 300th Army Band come from all walks of life, balancing full-time civilian careers or educational pursuits with their military service. Each member earns their place through a rigorous audition process and must meet all enlistment requirements for the U.S. Army. Following enlistment, Soldiers complete Basic Combat Training and 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at the U.S. Army School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to mastering musical performance, members of the 300th maintain core Soldier skills, including weapons qualification, physical fitness, and first aid.
The 300th Army Band traces its roots to December 1, 1943, when it was activated in London, England. Reorganized in 1944 as the 300th Army Ground Forces Band, the unit supported operations throughout Europe during World War II before its inactivation in Germany in 1946. In 1947, the band was redesignated as the 300th Army Band, remaining active through the 1950s and 1960s. In 1968, the unit was reassigned to the U.S. Army Reserve under the Sixth Army and reactivated in Bell, California, where it is still based today.
While the 300th primarily performs throughout the southwestern United States, its reach has extended nationwide and beyond. The band has supported operations at Fort Carson (CO), Fort Campbell (KY), Fort Sam Houston (TX), and Fort Riley (KS), and was one of only two Army Reserve bands selected to support “Operation: New Horizons” in El Salvador and Panama. Notable performances include events for President Gerald Ford, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and actors Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, and William Shatner, as well as appearances at major sporting events for the LA Dodgers, LA Chargers, LA Lakers, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Jose Earthquakes.
Through every performance, the 300th Army Band proudly strives to entertain, inspire, and harness the power of music to instill a deep sense of pride in America’s rich heritage.
