Bloated Beat You Can Do Battle To

Defense Department spends $500 million to strike up the bands

"Based on the Marine figures, total Defense Department spending could reach $500 million or more a year.

A new Army Field Manual describes the purpose of Army bands, a description that could apply to all the military services. It says that the mission is to "provide music throughout the entire spectrum of operations to instill in our forces the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote America's interests at home and abroad."