The 312th United States Army Band was activated on October 1st, 1973 in Lawrence, Kansas, as part of the 89th Army Reserve Command, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. For a brief period it existed as the only all female band in the Army Reserve. In 1977, an aggressive recruiting campaign was undertaken for both male and female musicians.

The 312th Army Band has grown from those early years to its present roster made up of soldiers from about thirty different professions and academic studies. The band schedules 15-25 performances each year and has performed at Kansas City Royals’ and Chiefs’ games, an Oakland A’s baseball game, and the National Boy Scout Jamboree. The 312th was also name an official “Bicentennial of the United States Constitution” band and an official “Eisenhower Centennial” band.

The 312th Army Band has performed hundreds of concerts throughout the country including West Point, New York and in Atlanta, Denver, Des Moines, Kansas City, San Francisco, St. Louis, and San Antonio among others.

The band features a marching band, concert band, stage band, jazz combo, brass ensemble, woodwind quintet, ceremonial detail and a rock band.

In October, 1995, Warrant Officer Robert N. Claggett assumed command of the band from CW4 Paul D. Gray (who was the commander for 18 years prior to Mr. Claggett). Mr. Claggett began his military career with the 4th Division Band at Ft. Carson, Colorado in 1975. In 1978, he moved to the Lawrence, Kansas area and joined the 312th Band. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas in 1982. Mr. Claggett was the Field First Sergeant and Training NCO of the band prior to assuming command of the band. He currently makes his home in Eudora, Kansas, with his wife and two daughters.

The 312th Army Band is the first Army Reserve Band to receive the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands. The prestigious international award recognizing military concert bands is administered by The John Philip Sousa Foundation. The 312th Army Band received this citation December 16th, 2005.

On October 1st, 2008 the 312th changed commands from the 89th Regional Readiness Command to the 88th Regional Support Command (88th RSC). The 312th Band is now a direct reporting unit to the 88th RSC. For more information about the 88th RSC, click here.