News>Deployed troops vibe to the beat of 'Tops in Blue'
Photos
Staff Sgt. Tommie Crutcher, a Tops in Blue vocalist, portrays famous music artist "Little Richard" July 22, 2011, during a performance in Southwest Asia for members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Paul Labbe)
Tops in Blue members perform July 22, 2011, in Southwest Asia. This year's "Rhythm Nation" tour featured songs from musical artists such as Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Jenifer Lopez and many more. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Paul Labbe)
Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and their coalition partners participate in a performance by Tops in Blue July 22, 2011, in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Paul Labbe)
Airman 1st Class Michael Williams adjusts a soundboard July 22, 2011, during a Tops in Blue performance in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Paul Labbe)
Tops in Blue members perform July 22, 2011, in Southwest Asia. The Tops in Blue team is a U.S. Air Force special unit composed of performers drawn from active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Paul Labbe)
by Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.
379th Air Expeditionary Wing
7/28/2011 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and partner units rocked to the various tunes of the U.S. Air Force's 'Tops in Blue,' July 22, at an air base here.
The world-traveling group of Airmen composed of 36 vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians from different career fields throughout the Air Force, provided musical entertainment and a break from the heat and normal daily activities.
"I think it's really cool how they come out and entertain people and serve as a good stress breaker," said Cadet Kevin Ueunten, an Air Force Academy student here as part of the school's Deployed Operations program.
The group performed songs ranging from the early 1900s to the present day, showcasing the different genres and changes in music as part of their theme for the 2011 tour, "Rhythm Nation."
"I am enjoying it a lot," said 1st Lt. Anna Cichocki, from the Combined Air and Space Operations Center. "I like the variety of all the music and them going through all the big hits from over the years; ... I'm glad I came to the show."
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gordon Richards, a flight engineer with the VP10 Patrol Squadron, said he was able to see the show in 2009 and knew it was going to be a good show.
"I thought it was pretty cool. I liked the whole history of music," said Richards. "For these guys to do all of this is a lot of work. It's pretty remarkable and [they are] a solid group of individuals."
Before the show, 'Tops in Blue' members along with a handful of volunteers set up the stage and equipment to include the lights, audio system and microphones. Then directly following the show, they pulled it all down and packed up for the next leg of the tour. The group has been following this routine for the past ten days, performing eight shows at various locations to help boost the morale of deployed service members.
"At first I thought they were really up-playing this a lot," said Senior Airman Zachery Rayburn, a vocalist from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., about his first trip to the area of responsibility. "But after we did the very first show in Kyrgyzstan and when we got off stage the first time and started shaking people's hands, with just real genuine heartfelt smiles, one guy said it was the best experience that he had in five months."
Senior Airman Kristina Overton, a vocalist from Misawa Air Base, Japan, said the best part about being with 'Tops in Blue' is giving back; being able to talk with different people and having a positive effect on their lives.
"We get to meet people on a regular basis ... being able to bring so much to other people," Overton said. "They tell you at the beginning that it's not easy and it's all about giving back. ... After (coming off stage), you get to meet people and they tell us how they loved the show, how we've (impacted) their lives and how it's going to affect them in the future, and I think that's the most powerful thing that this program offers."
"I like that they came to a deployed environment," Metts said. "I love seeing them in uniform because it shows that they are still regular Airmen like us."
Comments
11/3/2011 1:03:24 AM ET Cut Tops in Blue please. Manning and resource cutting has hit the bone. We are down to the last man/woman out here and the Air Force needs every man/woman back at their real jobs working real work. Not singing and dancing with poodle skirts and leather jackets on for pete sakes
Jeffrizo, Flightline
8/2/2011 10:58:30 PM ET Cut Tops in Blue.. Cut them TODAY because they serve no purpose except pull airmen out of the fight away from the REAL mission. use the funds to pay for bombs airplanes retirement funds. Seriously who likes watching TIB shows except for the actual performers
usaf pilot, USA
8/1/2011 12:28:11 PM ET Honestly I kind of enjoyed TIB's show but agree that the expenditure of funds on their pay travel and anything else Mother AF pays should not be going on in this time of belt-tightening. Maybe we could change these things to be more of a talent show for people at bases They're local so no travel or lodging payments are required... There's still MWR effect to be recieved that way and then the AF saves money. Hey AF Idea program over here
Advocate, FL
8/1/2011 9:25:45 AM ET Tops in Blue is the best thing to ever happen to the Air Force and I for one am proud to have my tax dollars go to support such a fine program. Imagine a world with more music and less fighting. It isn't hard to do. Don't get rid of Tops in Blue. If anything increase their funding so they can spread more cheer to service members and others. Feel free to raise taxes while you're at it because when we pay more we get more.
Band Fan, Texas
7/30/2011 4:56:44 PM ET How are we supposed to get any support against cuts in retirement pay and healthcare when the public sees FWA abuse like this? Between this flight attendant cooking competitions, rodeos, marathons, and programs that coddle officers how much money could be saved?
Enlisted Peon Retired, Washington D.C.
7/30/2011 9:55:10 AM ET I believe Tops In Blue's morale booster tag is much overhyped. An airman impersonating Little Richard may be considered entertainment by some but the morale of our troops would be much better served by returning them to their families instead of deploying them to support a president's political agenda.
Alan, Ohio
7/30/2011 1:17:43 AM ET I tend to agree with the rest of the comments on this story. If the AF is looking for things to cut, this should be the first to go. Between the uniforms, the lodging, and the gas wasted on moving this group around the world, there is a great deal of money to be saved by cutting this program.
Scott, Deployed
7/30/2011 1:02:26 AM ET I say cut them. The Air Force needs to stick to its priorities: 2 Wars and multiple worldwide contingency operations. Even if the Air Force does not pay for TIB, they are still paying for salaries and training for the USAF personnel who now are not doing what the Air Force trained them to do. I have no problem with Drill Teams and military bands as they are part of tradition that presents a Military image rooted in history. TIB not so much...
Brent, Deployed
7/29/2011 10:38:21 PM ET Nobody's morals change whatsoever from TIB, JWW. Their morale MIGHT increase but unless women overly made up, singing and wearing cheesy costumes does it for you, I'm quite sure that morals have nothing to do with it.
Bear, Japan
7/29/2011 8:38:18 PM ET I don't understand the rage against this program. Just because you didn't see them, were turned down, or think every person should be a combat arms specialist doesn't mean the program doesn't help with morale. Some people never saw nor will ever see a military funeral. Should we cut them out? Some people couldn't score if the game was rigged, should we knock out all females? Get over it.
Gene, Los Gatos CA
7/29/2011 8:20:19 PM ET If we really want to increase morale downrange we should let people untuck their PT shirts and wear morale patches. I think that would have a much bigger impact than TIB ever could.
Travis, TDY
7/29/2011 7:12:11 PM ET Spent 21 years active duty AF -- over three years overseas -- never saw a TIB. I say cut TIB and save the funds for other things. Want to see singing and dancing Check out YouTube etc on the Internet or go to your club downtown as applicable. Far as I know there are still USO shows going downrange too.
Otis R. Needleman, USA
7/29/2011 4:20:40 PM ET I have personally worked with a former TIB member. She was a waste in her career field. The good news is we got her back and were able to kick her out which opened up a spot for someone useful to do the job instead of going around the world dancing and singing while we were left at home picking up the slack or taking what would have been her deployment spot because her singing gig counts as her deployment. Yes, they are on the road a lot but that is not a MANDATORY mission, it is one we do because we want to. We are in a financial crisis. It's time to stop doing what we want to do and do what we need to do. As a final thought, let me ask you this. Do you think that TIB is so important that you would rather have your retirement and medical benefits cut in order to keep TIB? That is the measure of importance we are using here.
Tony, Keesler
7/29/2011 2:56:55 PM ET I toured with TIB also and before anyone complains about the money spent, realize that they receive almost all their funding through corporate sponsors -- very little AF funding goes into the program besides salary. Chris, the costumes are custom-made every year -- not reused. The instruments are replaced every 2-3 years. The people who tour with TIB are immensely talented -- many go on to professional music careers. Unfortunately, they're given junk to work with -- they don't pick the costumes or music. The only people I saw excited about TIB were military families -- the military themselves could care less. TIB has outlived its usefulness and I recently spent a year of my career with them.
Reluctant TIB Prior, CONUS
7/29/2011 10:23:07 AM ET @ tony and drinking8arade_kid - you two have NO idea what these people go through... If you actually did your homework before you made this comment that TIB doesn't use ANY funds from the Air Force... Tops In Blue is a seperate entity as far as money... AND SECOND OF ALL... you both fail to realize how much they sacrifice to even do this program... and as far as the instruments and costumes... for the most part they re-use older costumes because they LACK MONEY. Tops In Blue is not fake hype.. they may not be out on the front line shooting people but they are raising morale. You only see one side of their story. you don't see the behind the scenes struggles that they have each and every day.... I am a VERY PROUD TIB Prior. During my tour with TIB we changed lives.... we lifted spirits and showed our brothers and sisters in arms that they are not forgotten... everyone is entitled to their opinion. however before you kill a great thing, read more into their story.. hang out with them...
Chris C., Davis-Monthan AFB
7/29/2011 9:38:12 AM ET The morals that are boosted the most by the tops in blue are the morals of the members of the tops in blue.....cut the program save the money and put them back in there AFSC.
JWW, ND
7/29/2011 9:13:00 AM ET I once tried hitting on a tops in blue girl but she said no. since then i've never gone to a tops in blue. I'm not missing much anyway. i don't like the booty music and stuff from the 70s they sing. that was fine for my mom I guess but me, I prefer some Limp Biskit and Korn.
John Cox, Dyess
7/29/2011 2:53:16 AM ET Are you guys serious People sometimes fail to realize how important morale and welfare is to the overall health of troops including those that are serving downrange. Tops in Blue is amongst one of the teams that showcases Airmen that are willing to go all around the world to make Airmen smile laugh and give them a taste of home which some Airmen have not been to for years at a time while serving abroad. So saying that the TIB program is a waste is like saying that the morale and welfare of Airmen is not important. And that is a complete falsehood.
F-Dizzle, Kadena AB JAPAN
7/29/2011 1:15:14 AM ET Really guys I could write a novel about how much budget constraints are limiting how well we can complete our operational mission in the real Air Force and here we are spending millions to support a Glee club. Where is our common sense
Mike, Misawa
7/28/2011 9:28:54 PM ET While I can certainly appreciate these folks trying to entertain the troops lets be real - many in the audience are sometimes part of a rent a crowd. I can't remember how many times we were somewhat blackmailed into going. Everyone knows what I'm talking about - either stay at work or go support Tops in Blue. Funny thing is many folks preferred staying at work. If the Air Force is really serious about saving money they would eliminate these types of units before force shaping the operational units. Just saying.
John Bull, Offutt AFB
7/28/2011 5:09:19 PM ET While I will certainly not deny the talent of these men and women, their contribution to the fight is overstated. If the Air Force and DoD are serious about cutting needless spending and not hollowing out the force maybe we could kill the Tops in Blue program. You don't have to kill the manpower but the upkeep of the instruments, stage, and electronics, as well as travel and buying costumes, etc. Think about the costs saved right there and we can return those members to their original specialities. Even while in Tops in Blue, those members still count against their career field. Somewhere someone's career field is overmanned and an Airman is being pushed out of an operational unit while someone in his AFS is singing and dancing.
Tony, Keesler
7/28/2011 4:44:57 PM ET Vibe to the beat Oy vey. This program is an anachronism and every manpower billet that goes PTDY to support it should be first against the wall when it's time to start cutting.
Bill, Maryland
7/28/2011 3:09:34 PM ET Fantastic story -- however I know this is all a bunch of fake hype. The Tops In Blue are a bunch of phoney balonies with absolutely no real talent. They need to add some more spunk or the AF needs to cut it. We aren't trying to waste anymore are we?
