Posted on Jan 23, 2024
In what order should the service songs be played when performing the Armed Forces Medley?
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At commencement, we have a procession using the "Armed Forces Medley" in cadence with the Branch flags. There has been recent discussion of the order this should be. We ask Veteran (and Active), graduates and crowd, to stand during their song and presentation of their branch flag. I cannot seem to find any official DOD, or other government agency that identifies it. I found in DoDI 5410.19-V1, September 29, 2021 an inference of ascending or descending (Army <--> Coast Guard), but is there a standard I can share with our College President? Thanks in advance.
Before anyone asks, yes we have had Coasties in attendance before. :-)
Before anyone asks, yes we have had Coasties in attendance before. :-)
Posted in these groups: 
Ceremony
Drill and Ceremony
Ceremony Drill and Ceremony
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 6
For DoD, normally the Armed Forces Medley is played in reverse official precedence order*, with the "place of honor" going to the last organization (Coast Guard, Space Force, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps then Army).
Approved alternate ways to play are:
● Official order of precedence of the services (i.e., Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard) [This is actually the official guidance from the Army for their "Music Performance Units"*]
● Modified to honor one of the services (they are played last in the "place of honor") - For example, if honoring the Navy, it would be - Coast Guard, Space Force, Air Force, Marine Corps, Army then Navy.
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* https://www.wabe.org/tv-episodes/nso-performs-armed-forces-medley-2023/
* AR 220-90 (Army Music) - https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/docs/AR220-90.pdf
Approved alternate ways to play are:
● Official order of precedence of the services (i.e., Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard) [This is actually the official guidance from the Army for their "Music Performance Units"*]
● Modified to honor one of the services (they are played last in the "place of honor") - For example, if honoring the Navy, it would be - Coast Guard, Space Force, Air Force, Marine Corps, Army then Navy.
------------------------------------------------------------
* https://www.wabe.org/tv-episodes/nso-performs-armed-forces-medley-2023/
* AR 220-90 (Army Music) - https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/docs/AR220-90.pdf
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COL Randall C.
SSgt Milo Ratbottom - Understand the confusion. The official precedence closely aligns with the service age, but isn't exact. For example, the Coast Guard (as it is known now) was established in 1915 and the Air Force (as it is known know) was established in 1947. If done by age, then the Coast Guard should come after the Navy.
Add to it that although the Coast Guard is a military service of the United States, it isn't part of DoD (it's part of DHS and can be transferred to DoD during wartime).
These and other factors (lineage, etc.) go into the official order of precedence for the services as established by DoD, and the established order is Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and then Coast Guard.
Add to it that although the Coast Guard is a military service of the United States, it isn't part of DoD (it's part of DHS and can be transferred to DoD during wartime).
These and other factors (lineage, etc.) go into the official order of precedence for the services as established by DoD, and the established order is Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and then Coast Guard.
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SCPO (Join to see)
Coast Guard officially recognizes it's birthday as August 4, 1790. I'll spare you all of the back story.
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COL Randall C.
SCPO (Join to see) - *chuckle*
You can't get within 20 feet of a Coastie without hearing about their roots being the Revenue Cutter Service. That's why I said "as it is known now" because an old Coast Guard CMC "edumacated me well" when I worked with him.
You can't get within 20 feet of a Coastie without hearing about their roots being the Revenue Cutter Service. That's why I said "as it is known now" because an old Coast Guard CMC "edumacated me well" when I worked with him.
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SCPO (Join to see)
COL Randall C. - So basically what you're saying Colonel is you're looking forward to another 24 Coasties telling you the same thing haha
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The usual Order of Play for the Medley is the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marines then Army.
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CSM Chuck Stafford
SSG Eric Steinberger This is correct and the exact reverse of the order of the flags in a color guard -- that said, Space Force should now be included between Coasties and WingNuts
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CSM Chuck Stafford
Space Force reveals official song: "Semper Supra"
Every branch of the armed forces has an official song, from"The Army Goes Rolling Along" to "The Marines' Hymn." Each song is part ofthe services' foundation and represents its values, traditions and
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As a former Air Force bandsman I have a bit of experience with this. The official word from a former Air Force DC Band commander is "The official order is: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard.
When AFBands played the service songs, we always saved the AF song for the finale!!!"
When AFBands played the service songs, we always saved the AF song for the finale!!!"
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