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First-term Airman tours world with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  How many people get to see their dreams come true?

Seeing that happen takes strong ambition and persistence.

Ever since seeing Tops in Blue for the first time when he was in seventh grade, Airman 1st Class Matthew Flores of Spanaway, Wash. has been pursuing the dream of being in the show.

Since 1953, Tops in Blue has been one of the most widely traveled entertainment groups in existence. Composed of some very talented amateur vocalists, musicians, dancers and technicians in the Air Force, its primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families around the world. Throughout their history they have appeared in a variety of venues such as the Ed Sullivan Show, Boyz II Men concerts, Super Bowl XIX and several NASCAR races.

Today, Airman Flores is a vocalist for Tops in Blue. On stage, his energy electrifies the audience, as he smiles from ear-to-ear and brings together the entire cast during the group numbers.

"Without a doubt, he's proved himself worthy of being in Tops in Blue through his energy, positivity, and the way he brings everyone up on stage," said Mindy Cameron, Tops in Blue tour manager.

Music has always played a major part of his life, said Airman Flores. He began by picking up the violin as a fourth grader and continued playing in orchestra through eighth grade. In seventh grade, the same year he first saw Tops in Blue, his school choir teacher overheard him singing and persuaded him to join the choir, causing a turning point in his musical interests.

As a sophomore in high school, he began polishing his talent by taking classes for singing, dancing and acting.

He further challenged himself, the airman said, by competing at state and national singing competitions, and winning.

On June 1, 2009, Airman Flores finally enlisted in the Air Force. He had tried submitting an audition package to Tops in Blue before joining, but was told he needed to go through basic first.

So he did. Next came accounting and finance technical training.

Within a week after relocating to his first assignment at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Airman Flores applied and included a video tape.

During his First Term Airman's Course class, he received the call that he had made it into the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest finals.

"I was in tears and screamed real loud when I got the news," Airman Flores said.

The over-exuberant Airman could hardly quell his emotions because he realized that he was one step closer to realizing his dream.

"The competition consisted of 10 days of long hours," said Airman Flores.

The judges were constantly observing talent, work ethic, actions and interactions with other people.
"I made a lot of friends from the competition. It was a great experience," he added. "It was everything I thought Tops in Blue would be."

Though the contest had taken place in January, competitors would not hear whether or not they made the upcoming year's cast until February, with Feb. 18 being the last day.

Finally, that day came. His commander called the airman and his coworkers in for a meeting at the end of the day under the guise of work issues. Instead, at the meeting his commander announced that Airman Flores was selected for Tops in Blue.

"Since it was the last day, I had given up hope," he said. "But when it was announced, I lost it. I was in shock for a minute and a half. I couldn't move or breathe. There are no words to describe that feeling."

A few days later, Airman Flores outprocessed from Maxwell to visit his family before the year-long tour. After that, he headed to Lackland Air Force base to begin rehearsals on March 12, 2010.

"I was terrified that first day," Airman Flores commented. "I didn't know what to expect."

The instructors even went through the basics, like learning how to smile.

"They were like basic training instructors in the way they taught us," described Airman Flores.

During the first couple days they also began going through the basic Tops in Blue choreography. The routines are very exhausting, and Airman Flores even said they were more difficult than basic training. Despite the physical and mental challenges the rehearsals presented, Airman Flores learned what he was capable of.

"You learn how far you can push yourself through Tops in Blue," Airman Flores commented. "You learn to suck it up and do it, no matter what it is."

Finally, after all the practices, they had their first performance at Lackland as the sneak preview for the season. The fast pace of the performance came as a shock to all of them. The wardrobe changes had to happen more rapidly than expected.

"We definitely were not in regulation when we came out in our mess dress," laughed Airman Flores. "But you have to keep going, even if something is wrong."

Although there were mistakes in the performance, it didn't matter.

"I was very proud of myself for making it through that," he said. "At the end, I was so exhausted, I could barely walk. We did everything we could to be perfect. Everyone came together as a team."

Now several months into their tour, Airman Flores still enjoys every minute of being in Tops in Blue.

"I couldn't compare this to anything I have done before," he said. "I'm so grateful to have this. Every day is a new adventure."

A little more than a year into his Air Force career, Airman Flores is already touring the globe.

"Who gets to do this?" Airman Flores asked. "I get to see the world before I am 21, and am an ambassador of the U.S. and the Air Force as an Airman 1st Class."

Airman Flores has made many fond memories in the short time he has been with Tops in Blue, from the bus rides to the people he's met, from the commander of U.S. Africa Command to the "Candy Bomber," retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, a Berlin Airlift pilot.

Though the tour is barely half-way through, Tops in Blue has given him a lot, the airman said.

"I've got a lot of strength that I didn't realize I had before," he concluded. "I can do anything after this."

Tops in Blue still has a couple months before the current tour ends. Until then, Airman Flores will continue to light up the stage, singing and dancing in front of thousands.