Eielson Airman chosen for Tops In Blue

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  One of Eielson's newest members is about to join the ranks of some of the Air Force's most talented Airmen, touring the world and performing for Air Force personnel worldwide while simultaneously promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts and serving as ambassadors for the United States of America and the United States Air Force.

Airman 1st Class Aimee Grills, a 354th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering apprentice, was selected to be a vocalist for Tops in Blue. She will leave for Lackland Air Force Base to prepare for the year-long temporary assignment nearly one year after she entered active duty.

"I didn't expect it to happen my first year," she said. "It's kind of a whirlwind, I wasn't expecting to make it this soon. To be honest I auditioned on a whim because my friend and I had talked about it. I love it but I was going to wait. I haven't even gotten my career development course yet."

Airman Grills learned she was selected for Tops In Blue in mid-December from Scott Vincent, the Deputy Base Civil Engineer.

"I was extremely excited for her," said Mr. Vincent. "She is one of our bright and shiny Airmen. It felt like I was giving her an early Christmas present - something she really wanted but dared not hope to get."

"I suspect she will be a top-drawer addition to the team. She has a wonderful voice and I understand she is truly talented," he added.

Her journey started in technical school when she and one of her classmates shared a common interest in music - she's a singer and he's a guitarist.

"Not even a week after being stationed at Eielson, we were on the phone having a conversation about it and a few days later I saw a flyer for auditions so I took a picture of it and sent it to him," she said.

They agreed to send in audition videos and she was soon accepted for the competition.

She next found herself on a TDY for the 10-day audition conference at Lackland, which was in two parts, an Air Force talent competition followed by the Tops in Blue competition.

Airman Grills heard about Tops in Blue long before she was in the Air Force. She has two relatives that told her about the entertainment troupe because of her involvement in church and her high school's show choir.

"I thought that'd be awesome, get paid to do it and see the world," said Airman Grills. "I'm definitely looking forward to it."

The Air Force "Tops in Blue" entertainment group is an active duty unit made up of amateur performers. The 30-member group travels throughout the continental United States, Central America, Alaska, Canada and Europe, entertaining more than 250,000 military personnel and their families every year.

Airman Grill's next step is to travel back to San Antonio, where she and her new teammates will learn to break down and set up their stage equipment, attend professional make-up lessons, and learn the dance, instrument and song aspects of their new show routines before they begin their tour.