TOPS IN BLUE Fact Sheet Published Dec. 28, 2009 15 AW/PA December 28, 2009 -- Known as the Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers TOPS IN BLUE is the premier entertainment showcase of the United States Air Force. Since its inception in 1953, the primary mission of the TOPS IN BLUE program has been to boost the morale and maintain the mental readiness of Airmen and their families stationed throughout the world. They have accomplished this over the years by presenting high-energy shows designed to encourage, inspire, and invoke patriotism in all who see them perform. Tops In Blue annually performs over 120 shows world-wide, at nearly every Air Force installation in the world and in communities across the United States. The 2009 tour, entitled "To Dream," is a celebration of 56 years of TOPS IN BLUE. Revivals of favorite acts from past tours will be featured, along with brand new production numbers created especially for the 2009 tour. Known as the Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers, TOPS IN BLUE brings a little bit of "home" to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other remote locations worldwide. In the tradition of Bob Hope, the members of Tops In Blue sacrifice time with their own families during the holidays to perform for members of their military family . The 35 talented Airmen who make up TOPS IN BLUE come from virtually all career fields in the Air Force. Their tour begins with an intensive six-week training program at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. It consists of over 600 hours of training, working seven days a week as the team develops their skills and talent to create an exciting and vibrant show. They are trained on singing, dancing, and other stage performance skills. They also learn to setup and operate staging and technical equipment. As they serve as Ambassadors for the Air Force, the team receives additional training in physical fitness, protocol, and leadership, all designed to ensure that TOPS IN BLUE reflects the finest qualities of the United States Air Force. During each World Tour, TOPS IN BLUE travels over 40,000 miles within the continental United States alone. This is in addition to the countless hours and miles they log traveling throughout the world. All this results over 400,000 people being touched by TOPS IN BLUE each year. Although these audiences can attest to the high quality of each energy-packed TOPS IN BLUE presentation, most people are not aware of the effort it takes to make the show happen, both before and after the performance. TOPS IN BLUE is a completely self-contained unit, carrying over 60,000 pounds of equipment with them, spending many hours in setup and teardown for each show. Much of this work is accomplished in the most extreme conditions, from the blistering heat of the desert, to the bitter cold of winter in Alaska. The distinctive history of TOPS IN BLUE spans over half a century. Since its first world tour in 1953, the group has performed on film, produced albums, and appeared on national television with such legends as Ed Sullivan, Bob Hope, Alabama, Barbara Mandrel, BOYZ II MEN, and many others. They presented the entire half-time shows for the 1981 Garden State Bowl and Super Bowl XIX. TOPS IN BLUE has appeared in front of hundreds of thousands of fans at NASCAR events, and in 2005, they performed "The Star Spangled Banner" for Game 6 of the NBA Finals. TOPS IN BLUE has performed for heads of state and dignitaries throughout the world, and they have toured throughout Europe, the Far East, Middle East, Central America, Southwest Asia, Canada, and all 50 of the United States. They have presented their extraordinary brand of entertainment to audiences in Taiwan, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Iceland, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Albania, Vietnam, Cuba, Africa and Iraq. All this and more proves the members of TOPS IN BLUE are truly goodwill ambassadors to the entire world.