LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Each January, Air Force singers, dancers, musicians and technicians compete for slots in Tops in Blue. An Airman from the 633d Force Support Squadron was one of the more than 70 Air Force personnel who competed for a spot on the team.
Staff Sgt. Harron Elloso is one of only 36 chosen for this year's round of performances. The vocalist showed off his talents for the home crowd when he performed Nov. 12 at the Hampton University Convocation Center in front of more than 2,000 people.
According to Sergeant Elloso, he first learned about Tops in Blue as an Airman in 2004. Since he had always been an enthusiast of performing arts, he wanted to try out. Being in a one-deep slot, he didn't think his commander would allow him to be gone for a year. But like all things, if someone doesn't ask, they will never know.
"I asked my leadership and they said 'yes'," said Sergeant Elloso. "I tried out in 2009 and I didn't make the team, so I tried again this year and I made it. It was really exciting, especially since I didn't make it the year before.
The Airmen who make the team go through a three-month staging process learning the music and dances they will perform. During this process they work 16 hours a day training their vocals and bodies for the rigors of the upcoming tour. This would be the first time Sergeant Elloso would ever receive vocal training.
"We started staging in March but we didn't start performing until the middle of June," said Sergeant Elloso. "I was excited about the tour because I get to do what I love. I also get to travel the world with a group of amazing people who also love to sing.
"It's really hard work being in Tops in Blue," he added. "Sometimes you get two hours of sleep and then you set up to do another show. But it means a lot to me that we get to entertain the troops, especially those that are deployed because they don't always get to be entertained. They are far away from home and to bring an hour and 45 minutes of home to them makes me feel good."
Tops in Blue serves as an expeditionary entertainment unit to provide quality entertainment from within Air Force resources for the Air Force family, with priority to Air Force personnel stationed worldwide at remote and deployed locations while simultaneously promoting community relations, supporting recruiting efforts, and serving as ambassadors for the U.S. and the Air Force.