Music For The Military
About the Program
MBAW is delivering tailored musical programming designed to lift morale, social emotional well-being of soldiers, veterans and their families in San Antonio, TX. The program began as a 1-year pilot starting in April 2024 at the request of the Soldier Recovery Unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston with the unit’s needs to provide adequate music and arts programming to its recovering soldiers. The program has since expanded to the USO, also based at Fort Sam Houston.
It’s such a refreshing change of pace to experience live music in person. I love Spanish guitar, Flamenco music, and Mariachi so this was a joy.
Anonymous Service Member
Music and the arts give us a way to understand the complexities of our experiences and emotions. For soldiers, this can be a profound path to healing.
General Jim Mattis (Ret.), 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense
What MBAW Brings
Live Performances
Featuring Grammy Award-winning artists, these live performances during special events are designed to lift morale, foster community, emotional healing and cultural appreciation.
Guitar Classes & Drum Circles
Interactive session with artists and instructions are proven to help alleviate symptoms of PTSD, promote mental health, and encourage teamwork & creativity. These sessions are currently provided twice a month.
Outcomes
Regular participation in live performances leads to reduced stress, improved mood and morale, and increased emotional resilience. For soldiers in recovery, music offers a valuable therapeutic outlet, helping them experience joy and providing emotional relief from the trauma of their experiences.
This program’s survey results show that:
%
Participants felt a greater sense of belonging
%
Said music improved their overall mood
%
Reported increased emotional well-being
PROGRAM SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Michael Porter
OPERATIONAL SPONSORS
