Flagship brings musical approach to APS mission 

Members of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe rock band ‘Flagship’ brought American rock music to the forefront of a unique mission throughout West Africa as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS). 

Music often serves as an international language, and the band’s mission is to provide a cultural bridge between participants in the annual exercise. 

According to Gunnery Sgt. Michael Maschmeier, the Naples, Italy-based band plays an important role in putting a ‘face’ on the APS staff.

“Many of the people we play for have never heard American style music played live,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Wirt, Unit Leader of Flagship. “We also always try to perform with local musicians whenever possible,” he went on to say. 

So far, Flagship has played with local musicians many times, but Maschmeier said an Oct. 18, educational workshop and combined performance with the members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Band, was especially memorable.

The AFL Band, under the direction of Liberian Warrant Officer Bobby Lee Billy, was designed using the basic structure of the “President’s Own,” United States Marine Band, the primer musical organization of the United States Marine Corps. 

Maschmeier, the APS music operations coordinator and staff noncommissioned officer in charge, was given the honor of conducting the AFL Band during two musical selections. 

Along with two other members of Flagship, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Stark, saxophonist, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason McDonough, drummer, Maschmeier performed with the AFL musicians during the first part of the concert to an audience made up of more than 500 Liberian Army soldiers, U.S. Navy Seabees and members of the staff of the U.S. Embassy. 

After the AFL band finished, Flagship took to the stage and brought the audience into a dancing frenzy with selections from many different genres.  Members of the AFL Band later joined Flagship to perform the American music icon James Brown’s classic, “I Feel Good.” 

Four AFL musicians then entertained the audience by playing some traditional Liberian songs.  Flagship finished off the concert as the fading light of the African sun set over the base. 

Along with the rest of the APS staff, the band is embarked aboard the Dutch amphibious ship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L 801).  Johan de Witt is the first European-led APS platform which is augmented by staff from Belgium, Portugal and the United States.

Africa Partnership Station, originally a U.S. Navy initiative, is an international effort aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa by training and other collaborative activities with African partner nations.