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Dreams come true with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  After years of dedication and determination, Tech. Sgt. Katie Badowski of the 446th Services Flight here made her dreams a reality.

Sergeant Badowski saw Tops in Blue, the Air Force special unit made up of talented amateurs, perform while she was in the Washington Army National Guard. She was immediately hooked. Sergeant Badowski said she started her Air Force career with every intention of joining Tops in Blue.

"You can't knock down someone who has a dream," said Lt. Col. Patricia Keenan, 446th SVF commander. "When you have something inside of yourself that you want to express, it's bigger than you are."

Applying for the entertainment group involves a long application, an audition video, and if selected, an arduous 10-day competition at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Two other Air Force reservists also made the 2010 Tops in Blue tour. They are Master Sgt. Robert Clark, a vocalist from the 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., and Tech. Sgt. Kevin McGovern, a vehicle operator from the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

Most applicants don't make it to the 10-day competition and after failing to make the cut, they almost never reapply, said Sergeant Badowski. But Sergeant Badowski isn't like most candidates. She applied six times over the years and auditioned four times before making the final cut.

"Katie's very persistent and that's obvious," said Colonel Keenan. "Katie is one of only two reservists who applied for Tops in Blue and she came back not just once, but many times because this is something that's important to her."

Every time Sergeant Badowski competed, she improved her skills. With each application and audition, she learned something new about herself and used it to improve.

"So even if I didn't make the cut I would feel like I accomplished something," said Sergeant Badowski. "Last year they told me they loved my drive but I worked on a broader base of vocal talent and that seemed to help me find success."

While Tops in Blue is celebrating 56 years of entertainment history, Sergeant Badowski will be making her dream of showcasing her vocal talents with the premier group for the first time. She was scheduled to leave for Tops in Blue March 9. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)