The band makes appearances at pep rallies, special occasions, and formerly in the annual spring VEISHEA celebration parade.

[citation needed] Women were first allowed to march in the band in a limited capacity, as majorettes and percussionists, during World War II.

The band added a 'V' to its acronym in 1979 when members were using the varsity football team's showers after a game in preparation for a trip to perform for the Kansas City Chiefs.

When confronted by head football coach Earl Bruce, a bass drum player responded that they were the "Varsity Band".

Over 300 alumni and five former ISUCF'V'MB directors (including Roger Cichy) joined the band on the field at Homecoming 2005 for a performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture", complete with artillery from the Iowa Army National Guard.

Notable changes to these new uniforms include; a collar with the letters "ISUCF V MB" embroidered onto them, a modern, half-cardinal and half white-to-gold design, shacos with an embroidered cardinal logo, longer plumes with gold trim, custom gauntlets, and most notably, a cape spelling "CYCLONES" on the back of the right shoulder.

Students in the ISUCF'V'MB are required to register for a music class in the fall semester, and receive a letter grade based on their attendance and punctuality to rehearsals and games.

The directors are responsible for organizing the band, auditioning new members, selecting and leading the student staff and leadership, making travel arrangements, writing or commissioning marching drill, selecting music, running rehearsals, directing the basketball pep bands, and communicating with the Athletic Director and university.

Staff members with conducting experience help the drum majors lead the band to provide better coverage on the field or in the stands.

The main responsibility of an ISUCF'V'MB drum major is as a field commander who conducts and calls songs during rehearsals, games, and special performances, though they have other roles as instructors and leaders.

In addition, a similar half-height, double-time version of the high-step, called 'X'ing, is used to enter the field for pregame performances.

From here, the band moved approximately two hours before kickoff into the courtyard of the Iowa State Center near the Scheman Building.

The band would then break by ranks to form a block and parade under cadences to the south side of Jack Trice Stadium for pregame.

After the Spirit Walk is complete, the band will move to the Alumni Center's eastern staircase and perform a collection of school songs, halftime selections, and other cheers, in what is called a "Step Show".

Once complete, the band still dismisses by rank to form the parade block, and then marches around the parking lots and back into Jack Trice Stadium.

Beginning in 2015, the State Storm ensemble parades through the parking lots of Jack Trice Stadium and the RV Village, separately from the Varsity Band, also entertaining fans with selections from the halftime show, school songs, and cheer favorites.

A favorite Storm activity is circling around a row of portable toilets, waiting to serenade the next fan who exits a stall.

The ISUCF'V'MB pregame show begins as the drum majors enter the playing field and bring the band to attention with the call of "Go State!"

"The National Anthem Fanfare" is the next song performed, while the band forms a star-like shape in front of the central 50-yard (50 m) line ladder.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is played under the colors of Iowa State's Reserve Officer Training Corps unit (conducted by the director of a visiting band if one is present).

The song selection of the ISUCF'V'MB is eclectic and varied: classical music, jazz, Latin, movie themes, pop, rock and roll of all decades, show tunes, and swing are all featured.

Every halftime performance concludes with "ISU Fights" as the band high steps off the field before the second half and returns to the stands.

Songs for defense are louder, more bombastic, laced with power chords, in hopes of disrupting the opposing teams' pre-play preparations.

Other songs played include arrangements of Little Mix's "Wings", Demi Lovato's "Confident", and The Lonely Island's "I'm on a Boat".

The drum majors organize a "Roving Band" in the second half that parades around the stadium and up into the stands, playing fight songs and doing cheers.

Storm augments the Varsity Band by parading the tailgating lots and performing previews of halftime selections as well as school songs and cheer favorites.

State Storm enters the stadium before the Varsity Band and entertains the student section of the stands prior to the official pregame show.

Since this ensemble only learns the halftime music selections and not the show, rehearsals are twice a week versus the five-days-a-week Varsity schedule.

Although State Storm was created to expand marching band opportunities for student musicians, membership is competitive.

Some of the most successful songs are retained for the next marching band season, as well as a vast selection of past favorites and original student arrangements.