At any performance by The U.S. Army Field Band, audiences are thrilled by the talent and expertise of the professional musicians on stage. But few realize that the concert presentation is the culmination of years of work by many different teams. One of the most vital groups in the preparation of a concert tour is the Advance Team.

The Advance Team's unsung supporting role in the mission of the Army Field Band is essential, and transforms years of planning into a reality. The two-person team assigned to each component's tour inspects every hotel and venue, writing travel routes while making sure they are quick and accessible for the equipment trucks. They are responsible for finding lodging that meets specific criteria, including room availability, price, parking for larger vehicles, and services required by a group that lives on the road for weeks or months at a time. They also play the important role of being the first representatives of the Army Field Band that hotel staff and sponsors meet face-to-face.

The Advance Team allows the Army Field Band's performing components to arrive in a new town and feel like they have been there before, even if it is their first visit. William Edward Clark, a 2010 sponsor and former Army Field Band Commander said, "They get everything organized. If you go on the road with 100 Soldiers and you don't have a well-coordinated machine, it will not work properly. This way of doing a tour is much more effective."