[2] At the time of its establishment, it was primarily as a ceremonial unit responsible for supporting cadet activities at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where it was stationed.

While there it performed in the triumphal parade held for Admiral Chester Nimitz and participated in the mourning ceremonies for President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt, assigned to perform dirges at Union Station for the arrival of the funeral train carrying the president's body.

The 11th District Band enlisted Rudy Vallée as its bandmaster (during World War I Vallee had served in the U.S. Navy for three months before being expelled after it was discovered he was 15 years old).

[2][11] In late 2015 the Coast Guard began another study about the feasibility of relocating the band from its traditional station in New London, Connecticut to Washington, DC.

[13][14] The Coast Guard Band recorded Nelson's arrangement of the song for review by the Space Force.

[15] Teachenor and Nelson gifted "Semper Supra" and the copyright to its music and lyrics to the United States Department of the Air Force.

The band, however, maintains several chamber music groups to provide specialized performance capabilities to which some personnel are co-assigned.

[9] Operationally located at Leamy Hall at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the band has billets for 54 instrumentalists and command staff, and one vocalist.