The United States Naval Academy Pipes and Drums is a highland musical cadet unit of the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

(USNA). Currently, the 42-member military

pipe band A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common. The most common form of pipe band consists of a section of pipers playing the Great Highland bagpipe, a ...

is the only active duty unit of its kind in any service of the

Department of the Navy Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to: * United States Department of the Navy, * Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), in the United Kingdom, 1964-1997 * Confederate States Department of the Navy, 1861-1865 * Department of the ...

(

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

included). The band group provides musical support to the academy's Brigade of Midshipmen as well as the larger city of Annapolis, Maryland. It is one of several service academies and senior military colleges to maintain bagpipe bands, alongside the West Point Pipes and Drums and the

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

Pipes and Drums. The USNA Pipe Band is one of the more recent of these types of bands, being established in 1996 with funding being provided by members of the Annapolis class of 1961. It was officially approved as a Brigade Support Activity (BSA) three years later. Today, it provides musical support for the following events and musical requirements of the USNA: * Graduation and commissioning ceremonies of USNA Classes *Military/patriotic ceremonies *Public concerts and social events *Retirement ceremonies *Funerals *Sporting events/televised performances *Organized civil/

military parades A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. The military parade is now almost entirely ceremonial, though soldiers from time immemorial up until the lat ...

* Celtic, Scottish and other cultural festivals *Pipe band competitions *Any other solo activity or joint activity with the

United States Naval Academy Band The United States Naval Academy Band was officially founded in November 1852. Previously, there had been a band since the founding of the Naval Academy in 1845, consisting of a fifer and a drummer. The band consists of US Navy career musicians. Th ...

The band wears a

kilt A kilt ( gd, fèileadh ; Irish: ''féileadh'') is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish ...

which features the Polaris Military Tartan when they are in the parade ground. The design originated in the early 1960s and was pioneered by Captain Walter Schlech and Alexander MacIntyre of Strone. The tartan is patterned in service tartan of the navy and is similar to the Black Watch tartan with the only difference being the addition of a four thread overcheck consisting of yellow - black - sky blue - black - yellow.

Gallery

File:US Navy 070522-N-1134L-002 Midshipman 4th Class Beth Kent performs as part of the U.S. Naval Academy Pipes and Drums, the Department of the Navy's only active pipe band.jpg, File:US Naval Academy Pipes and Drums bagpiper.jpg, File:6 USNA Bagpipes.jpg, Image:Polaris Tartan.jpg, The Polaris Military Tartan

References

{{United States military bands, state=collapsed Bands of the United States Navy Musical groups established in 1996 United States Naval Academy College marching bands in the United States Pipe bands Military academy bands Ceremonial units of the United States military