944th member selected for Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A 944th Fighter Wing member was recently selected to join the U.S. Air Force premiere entertainment unit, Tops in Blue. 

Staff Sgt. Corey Sims, 944th Communications Squadron, was chosen as a vocalist after the week-long world-wide talent competition held Dec. 2 through 10, 2007, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. 

Tops in Blue is a one-year permissive temporary duty assignment, which requires the individual's squadron to release them for the tour period. 

"It's a great feeling being selected for Tops in Blue," said Sergeant Sims. "This is my second tour and, I'm really excited about working with the Tops in Blue team again." 

Sergeant Sims was selected to attend the December competition after completing an application and submitting a VHS recording of him singing. He was then called to compete for one of the vocal positions. 

During the week at Lackland, there were 75 people trying out for 28 positions in the show, Sergeant Sims said. 

While at Lackland, competitors were split into teams. Each team had a leader to coach them with show skills ranging from singing to improving stage performance. The contestants had an interview process involving all aspects of the show including vocal and dance auditions. Finally, they had a board interview with the chief of Air Force Entertainment who assessed their personality and military professionalism, Sergeant Sims said. 

"The last three were the teams' final performances," Sergeant Sims said. "Teams performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday to determine who would be selected." 

After a week of auditions, Sergeant Sims returned home as one of the new 2008 Tops in Blue tour members. Training begins in March to put the show together before the tour begins. 

"I'm looking forward to this year," Sergeant Sims said. "Because I was in Tops in Blue before I have a different perspective than my first time when all I cared about was my performance and not helping other people. This time I will enjoy going to deployed bases. It's like bringing a bit of home to the deployed troops and that's a great feeling."