In 1952, the Army Recruit Training Centre began to be been served by a full time military brass band with a composition of 12 members.[5] It would later be known as the Royal Australian Engineers Band, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals Band and the 1st Recruit Training Battalion Band before being given its current name.[6]
The unit has 22 musicians in its ranks who serve on various on the brass and/or woodwind sections. Being primarily a marching band, the AAB-K also boasts a stage band, rock band, and a jazz ensemble. The AAB-K's primary role is to support the ARTC and therefore support all recruit activities within the Kapooka Military Area.
The band has also represented Australia overseas during world tours and military deployments, really beginning with a visit to Papua New Guinea in 1990 as well as East Timor in 2000 and 2001. As per military festivals, the band had the privilege to perform at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland on one occasion and the honor of performing in Tonga as part of a combined International band for the birthday celebrations of the king.[8][9] In August 2019 AAB-K premiered an original show Around the World in 80 minutes at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.[10] The show saw band members performing songs from around the world and vocalists singing songs in English as well as foreign languages.[11]
