The use of musical performance in music therapy with active duty military service members is discussed as a vehicle for social transformation and re-integration. The use of musical performance in music therapy is not without controversy. Therapy is considered a process, not a product, and essential components of this therapeutic process are confidentiality and privacy. However, others have argued that public performances can validate therapeutic changes in clients, give voice to clients' experiences, raise awareness of social issues within their community, transform perceptions of disability or illness in audience members, and provide opportunities to receive support and validation from the community. We discuss the potential of musical performances to contribute to individual development and rehabilitation in active duty service members as well as facilitate change at the community level. We illustrate this through three brief case reports of active duty service members who received music therapy services at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence on base at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the USA as part of their treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other psychological health concerns. The service members selected, learned and refined songs over multiple music therapy sessions, created introductions to each song to share with the audience the meaning of each song and the benefits gained from working with these songs in therapy. The case reports also include excerpts of interviews conducted with these service members several months following their performances about their experiences of the performances themselves and the perceived impact on the community.