In addition to its musical, ceremonial role, the Royal Marines Band Service has a long tradition of providing military support to UK Defence. In 2001/2002, the Plymouth Band undertook a six-month deployment to Kosovo as part of Medical Squadron, Commando Logistic Regiment. This was followed by a four-month deployment to the Middle East as a part of Exercise Saif Sareea. During 2002/2003, members of the band were involved in the Armed Forces’ response to Fire Brigade Union industrial action, and provided primary and secondary role support to military operations in Iraq. In 2008/2009, members of Plymouth band deployed to Afghanistan as part of the UK Medical Group and more recently in 2011 the RMBS deployed members of CTCRM Band with 3 Commando Brigade as part of Operation Herrick 14.

In recent years the band has enjoyed many varied and high profile events including support to the 2012 Olympics as well as performing at the Trinidad and Tobago Tattoo in the same year. In 2013 the band supported the 100th Anniversary International Fleet Review in Sydney, Australia which was followed by a three month deployment on HMS Daring. 2014 bought many events celebrating 350 years of the Royal Marines, including performances on Horseguards Parade with the Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines and more locally with the South West Proms concert at Plymouth Albion RFC. In 2015 the band provided support to the Poppy Ball in Abu Dhabi; the largest fund raising event for the Royal British Legion outside of the UK and more recently in 2016 visited New Delhi in India where the band enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Indian Navy Band which culminated in a joint performance at the iconic India Gate Memorial in front of an estimated audience of 8000.

In 2017 the band were centre stage for the Passchendaele commemorations in Ypres before parading in front of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in his last public appearance as the Captain General Royal Marines. They also returned to Abu Dhabi again in support the RBL Poppy Ball. 2018 bought many massed bands commitments where Plymouth band joined the rest of the RMBS at the Mountbatten Festival of Music, Beating Retreat and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Later in the year, the band travelled to Bucharest in Romania to celebrate 100 years since all the historical provinces joined together to make one unified country. 2019 has proved no less busy with the band travelling to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Algeria and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) to celebrate the Queens birthday. The visit to Europe also gave the band the chance to perform as the first military band in the new NATO HQ in Brussels. A visit to Gibraltar in support of the Gibraltar Natwest International Island Games XVIII followed in June, before a flying visit to Canada in support of HMS Queen Elizabeth in September.

2020 started with the band travelling to London to perform at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, this including performing for HRH Prince Harry’s final duty as a working Royal before the pandemic bought the country to shut-down. During this time, members of the band took to the internet with many featuring in various on line projects before gradually getting back to performing, the band performing on Horseguards Parade as part of the Tri Service band for the VJ 70 anniversary commemorations in August 2020. In 2021 the band were involved in both HM Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee celebrations as well as being one of the many military contingents for the funeral of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021. They were also involved, as were so many others, at the State funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 before a visit to New York City for performances at the Empire State Building, Central Park and Grand Central Station as well as a performance with Katherine Jenkins OBE on board HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of the Atlantic Future Forum. A highlight for many will come later this year as the band will be among the military contingents performing for the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023.

The Royal Marines Band Service recruits annually at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth. Any fit, motivated, enthusiastic male or female musician between the ages of 16 and 30 who is interested in a fulfilling, varied and rewarding life in a professional musical organisation should contact their nearest Armed Forces Careers Office, or visit www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk.