Tops In Blue – The Air Force's Premier Entertainment Showcase!

Master Sgt. Kristopher Kobernus
Tops In Blue technical director
Ramstein Air Base, Germany

Master Sgt. Kristopher Kobernus is the technical director for the 2012 Tops in Blue tour. Kobernus is a fusion analyst superintendent assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

If I had asked what is the most important thing that I can do to prepare myself for Tops In Blue, I hope the answer would be “prepare for change.” Prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally.

We have had to prepare ourselves mentally for the change. It is a change of attitude; you can no longer act like every other Airmen. You must learn to live up to the highest standards of conduct. Not only when you are “at the office” or “on base,” but every moment of the day, because as we have learned we are in the spotlight 24/7.

Secondly, we have been preparing ourselves physically for the change. My normal daily activities were behind a desk. Now, I am lifting, running, exercising and constantly moving. Beyond the new types of duties, our daily schedule here is upwards of 14 hours a day, every day. That has required a change in physical stamina.

Lastly, there is an emotional change. The teammates you work with here are closer to you than almost anyone you have worked with in the past. We rely on each other for support as if we are a family because at the end of the day our family isn’t here with us. This team has become my family for the next year, and I expect that the friendships we have already built will only continue to grow and become lifelong relationships.

These past six weeks have been full of change, but every part of it has made me a better Airman, senior non-commissioned officer, leader and person. I can’t wait for the experiences of the next 10 months. I am sure they will bring more opportunities for change and growth.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Menges

Tops in Blue technician

Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Seven years ago I showed up to a small church in Wichita Falls, Texas, searching for what most people go to church for. I, however, found

Tech. Sgt. Michael Mendes is a lighting engineer for the 2012 Tops in Blue tour. Mendes is a tactical aircraft maintenance craftsman assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

something a bit different.

Within my first two visits, I was asked to become part of the technical production crew. I had no idea what that would entail, but I love new experiences, so I joined the team. The tech staff put me on the lighting board using some very outdated hardware. At that time, I had no idea that there was better equipment out there. Within six months, the church upgraded its system to, in my opinion, one of the best systems on the market at that time. It was the Whole Hog PC program from High-End. This began my love obsession with digital lighting.

For five years I was the lighting director for the church. If there was an issue with lighting, I was the one to fix it. Life as a lighting director was great, until I received orders and moved to Florida. No more light board. I spent the next year of my life trying to find a place where I could use my skills. Searching the web one day during my lunch break, I came across the Tops in Blue audition application. I saw a section for technicians. I decided to fill it out and see what would happen. A couple of months later, I was called to audition for the lighting director position. In January I arrived in San Antonio, Texas for my job interview. After 10 long days, I finished second in the technical category taking home a “Wilco” trophy.

Two months later I found myself back at San Antonio as a member of Tops in Blue as the lighting director. Up to this point in my life, I have achieved a lot of great things. I am a proud father of three wonderful children and proud husband of a beautiful wife. I have served for almost 12 years in the World’s greatest Air Force. I get to work on some of the coolest planes ever made, the F-15s and the F-35s. This experience as a Tops in Blue member has the potential to rank up pretty high on my lengthy achievement list.

This experience has been wonderful and challenging in many ways. I have met some wonderful people whom I will call family for the rest of my life. I have been giving the opportunity to travel the world doing what I once called a hobby. I have a chance to really hone my skills as a lighting director and more importantly as an NCO in the Air Force. TIB is truly a gateway into a whole new dimension that most people don’t know exist. I am truly blessed to be fortunate enough to live this experience.

- Michael

Master Sgt. Matthew Lemieux
Tops In Blue vocalist
Ramstein Air Base, Germany

Truth…everything they told me has turned out to be true. They said that this was going to be the hardest year of my life and the hardest thing I have ever done.

Master Sgt. Matthew Lemieux is a Tops In Blue vocalist from Ramstein Air Base, Germany

So far they’re right.  I have been sleep-deprived for years but have always been able to catch up on weekends or holidays…that is until now.

Now I get five to six hours of sleep each night and work harder and longer hours than I ever have in my life.  The norm seems to be 14 to 16 hours and I’m told that will increase. 

In fact just recently they changed our schedule to work through the night and sleep during the day.  I’m hoping I can get a nap before I have to go back in tonight but the clock is ticking. 

Like most other team members, I’ll have an energy drink on hand just in case I need that little jolt of caffeine.  We are over the hump now with just over a month to go before our first show.  We are learning lots of new songs and choreography too. 

The new stuff is coming at us a lot quicker than the first set that we worked so hard on up until now.  I know that the crowds will be pleased with the song selection this year, particularly the younger folks. 

I won’t spill the beans but as always, there will be something for everyone, whether it is pop, rock, country, R&B, oldies, standards, etc. 

As the old guy, I’ve struggled to keep up with the youngsters particularly on the dance floor.  Being a perfectionist doesn’t help, but I just keep taking it one day at a time.  In the beginning I had more bad days than good, but now it seems to be the opposite. 

I’m losing weight, getting stronger, becoming a better singer and entertainer, and learning to dance…I mean move to the music and occasionally do something that resembles a dance move or two. 

Still it’s been a great experience so far.  Our team is extremely talented with each person bringing something different to the table.

I hope all of you will get to see us at least once on this tour.

All of us (vocalists, bandmembers, and technicians) are working very hard to build a great show for you. 

Hope to see you soon.

– Matthew

Airman 1st Class Jonathan Leak
Tops In Blue vocalist
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

Airman 1st Class Jonathan Leak is a Tops In Blue vocalist from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

Who would have thought that this little dreamer from Detroit would be a part of a legendary entertainment unit known as Tops In Blue?

“The dance floor is your sanctuary,” is all I think of when we’re about to take on a set.  Looking and seeing the faces of my team members from their smiles of satisfaction, to their smiles of discomfort, as we hear the music begin. 

Even when we take the stage, just hearing the band’s intro to our song definitely makes my heart pound.  In the same instant I’m making sure I’m listening to the beat of the drums to hear the count of where I’m suppose to step, sing, and overall perform at the best of my abilities. 

Sometimes I do try to take that last second to think of all the moves, spacing, lyrics, and transition, because if I don’t, the storm of Ed Jones will rain upon me.

Then in an instant I hear my queue.  I’m in position, and I feel a rush as I’m trying to fill the room with the energy I’m implementing. Making sure my moves are big, keeping up my “Tops-In-Blue Smile,” and of course making sure the audience knows that I’m here. 

So honestly a day in the life of Tops In Blue for me is definitely hard work, long days, and the gift of doing what I love, while having the opportunity to be a part of a unit that is the epitome of teamwork. We are challenged by commanders and peers alike in determining if we meet their standards for being labeled as one of the “Best of the Best” in the Air Force.

– Jonathan

Staff Sgt. Daniel Knight
Tops In Blue Instrumentalist
Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Knight is an instrumentalist from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

When I pick up my trombone to start the day, I expect a great tone to come out.

I could either play a warm-up note perfect in pitch or its missed. If the first note is perfectly executed, I feel like it’s going to be a great day. If not, it could be because of pain from the incredibly long day before.

We’re more than a month into staging, and I have never experienced the level of pain from playing so much. I knew it was going to be painful when I tried out for the Worldwide Talent Contest. There is nothing you can do to prepare for 12 hours of playing. You just have to simply play. And from here, it’s not going to be any easier.

After a few minutes of warming up I test my range limits.

Prior to joining, I mainly played in a lower range due to the type of music I was playing.

After receiving the first few songs from Mr. Best, it was apparent that I had to quickly develop an upper range. I also have to be consistent with attaching the notes, but it has to be in tune.

Kind of playing around a note isn’t acceptable. I’m not there yet, but that still hasn’t stopped me from trying.

– Daniel

Staff Sgt. Tyron Jones
Tops in Blue vocalist
Yokota Air Base, Japan

Staff Sgt. Tyron Jones is a Tops In Blue vocalist from Yokota Air Base, Japan.

This is definitely not for everyone – first waking up at 6 a.m., to prep for the day, and then readying yourself for an intense aerobic workout; then rehearsing for 12 to 13 hours on a dance floor while singing and sweating — like you’ve never sweat before. Finally, you get home after 10 p.m., seven days a week. Again, this is definitely not for everyone.

Training to be ambassadors of a whole country and the Air Force is challenging! Working so hard day and night pushing past our limits and putting blood, sweat, and tears into our craft to be at that level. But our country and our Air Force deserve nothing less.

These words cannot even come anywhere close to the extraordinary feeling, learning experience, exhaustion, pain, and fun I am having during these first months here at the Tops in Blue Production Center.

My feet, shoulders, and back throb with thunderous pain from dancing so hard, pushing myself and giving it everything I got.

My muscles are getting bigger, and I’m able to run faster, longer, and sing higher. But it’s good hard work. You will never get it if you don’t want it bad enough.

I’ve always wanted to be the best I can be, but better, then better. And yes, I want it bad!

But I have discovered how good I am not, which pushes me even harder when I think I can’t go on anymore.

This is what we do every day at Tops In Blue. It’s hard, but I love it and want more.

– Tyron

Airman First Class Joseph Kay
Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
Tops In Blue vocalist

Airman 1st Class Joseph Kay is a Tops In Blue vocalist from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

So, 43,200 minutes and still counting is how long I’ve been living through this experience called “Staging.”

Why count in minutes? Because here in Tops In Blue, every minute truly counts!

I’m a male vocalist in this year’s tour and this is what I’ve walked through thus far:

– The experience has been amazing, and the best is yet to come, but of course don’t get me wrong, everyday is a definite challenge – physically and mentally.
– Pushing these legs to finish our last sixtieth-second “7step” while executing our “spins to the left and spins to the right” sharper, just to fly the sweat out of our eyes without breaking our discipline.
– Making the impossible the new expectation.
– Waking up everyday calling it Monday (regardless of what day it really is, because in reality, we have no weekend breaks ) at  6 a.m. and getting ready for the gift of today in learning new music, to matching choreography, to blending all of the voices with the amazing band creating life in the air… the life of entertainment that will soon be used to lift the edges of lips into smiles for all families with priority to Air Force personnel stationed worldwide.

That is why I say “the best is yet to come.”

It’s Day 30 — My legs are stronger, my waist is smaller, my core is tighter, but what I’m most grateful for — my family is bigger. My TIB family. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to believe that this kind of training was achievable.

Without them, we, as a group, wouldn’t have made it to this day — day 30.

Getting through and accomplishing this year’s tour will take all of us combining as one. Working together in getting airplanes off the ground more effectively and efficiently using our talents as tools. And to me, that will be the beauty of Tops In Blue — unity.

– Joseph

Airman 1st Class Briana Hofreiter
Tops In Blue vocalist
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

I will be the first to say that I am not a vocalist.

Airman 1st Class Briana Hoffreiter is a Tops In Blue vocalist from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Being at the Air Force Worldwide Talent Competition in January was my first time singing in years.  I had a feeling that I would have to do the vocal audition, even though I auditioned as a dancer. 

Once I found out that I was selected for the team as a vocalist, I panicked about singing to people other than my steering wheel.  But the other vocalists have gladly stepped up to help me with getting it right.

Even with my teams help, its a constant battle to try to find the right notes.  After long days the the production center, filled with vocal and dance rehearsals, I come back to my room ready for bed. 

However, I have to remind myself that vocals are my weakness and it is something I will have to work on to make sure that I can find my notes — even while I’m on the road.

Before I enlisted in the military, I danced for 14 years.  So when the vocalists are sent to the dance floor, its like being at home. I try to help my teammates with the choreography as much as I can, but none of us were prepared for the sore feet, legs, and back.

While at Worldwide, they tried to prepare us for the hardwork that came with being Tops In Blue.  But no amount of warnings could have prepared me for this.

Even though it is hard work and there are days I’m surprised that I’m still awake and able to walk. I know that this experience will make me a more well rounded Airmen.

– Briana

Senior Airman Joseph Hardeman
Tops In Blue vocalist
Cannon Air Force Base, N. M.

Senior Airman Joseph Hardeman is a Tops in Blue vocalist from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

Three weeks ago, we arrived in San Antonio excited to be selected. We reported to our rooms for the night and the next day we were introduced and started inprocessing. In no time at all, we then started learning music and hitting the dance floor. 

At first, I was kind of stressed out because I wasnt getting the choreography, but then we moved to vocals where I found it easier to remember things. 

Then it was back to the dance floor. After a while we all started getting used to the routine and dance moves. 

Now, we have increased in performance, vocals, and an overall Tops In Blue lifestyle. 

This week, we hit the stage for the first time. Needless to say, it wasnt very good. We had gotten so used to using the mirrors on the dance floor, that we had no idea what to do next or what we even looked like. 

After we went over the first set several times and made corrections and changes, we tried again the next evening.  This time, we were better.

With still MUCH to learn, we have come so far and I am so excited to see what happens tomorrow, the next day, and the next day. I speak on behalf of the entire TIB2012 team when I say, “Im so HAPPY to be here with Tops In Blue and consider myself blessed in so many ways to be part of a family that will be there to pick you up when you fall, to help you learn, to help you succeed, to fall with you, to grow with you, to travel with you, and to share experiences with you that you probably will NEVER have another chance to experience.” 

At only three weeks into staging, I can already feel the love and can already feel my life starting to change.

– Joseph