The Arizona National Guard

Like all other National Guard units, the membership of the 108th Army Band is made up of citizen soldiers. These individuals include educators, businesspeople, mechanics, postal employees, students, and many others. Unlike other National Guard units, the band's primary responsibility is to promote morale and provide music for the troops. An additional peacetime mission of the band is serving as a public relations arm of the National Guard to the people of Arizona.  The musicians of the 108th Army Band have been brought together by their love of music and their desire to serve their country. The band performs a mixture of the traditional, and the contemporary.  From the thrill of a rousing military march to the lilt of folk tunes or to the driving beat of today's rock.  The 108th Army Band Keeps a busy schedule performing for visiting state dignitaries and at numerous civic and state functions, During annual training, the band travels throughout the State of Arizona performing concerts and parades in many different communities, Since the Arizona National Guard serves all of us in the state, the 108th Army Band has been called by many as "The Band of the People of Arizona".

A Brief History of the Band

The unit was organized and federally recognized in the Arizona Army National Guard as the Band Section, Service Company, 158th Infantry - an element of the 45th division, in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 22, 1913. In May, 1940, it was redesignated as the Band, 158th Infantry and, on May I8th of the same year, it was inducted into federal service.  The 158th Infantry, also known as the "Bushmasters': received wide acclaim as a combat team during World War II. General MacArthur once said of the Bushmasters, "No greater combat team ever deployed for battle". On February 11, 1942, the 158th Infantry was relieved from assignment to the 45th Division, On May 12, 1944, the band was reorganized and redesignated as the 108th Army Ground Forces Band For service in the Philippines in 1944 and 1945, the band was awarded the Philippine Presidential; Unit Citation. On September 17, 1946, the band was activated in Japan. On April 14, 1947, the band was reorganized and federally recognized at Phoenix, Arizona. The band was redesignated on May 17, 1947, The 108th Army Band.