Kirtland Airman 'forever changed' by Tops in Blue experience

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
After a year away from Kirtland, Senior Airman Rashaun Carter is back performing his regular duties as an aircrew flight equipment technician with the 58th Special Operations Wing. While the job is similar to before he left, he is not.

"I'm forever changed by this program, for the better," Carter said.

Carter is talking about his year-long experience as a performer in Tops in Blue, the Air Force's high-profile, traveling entertainment ensemble. He auditioned for the group upon entering the Air Force, and just one year into his service he was told he had made the cut.

During his time with the troupe, he traveled 85,000 miles to perform nearly 100 shows throughout the United States and in 17 countries. He worked 16 to 20 days and learned to live on just a few hours a sleep a night. He said there were many times he and his teammates had to perform despite nearing complete exhaustion - mentally, physically and emotionally. Yet despite the hardships, Carter has zero regrets.

"I'd absolutely go back and do it again," he said. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life, but at the same time the most rewarding thing I've ever had the opportunity to do."

He said he had no idea just how much work it would be. He also had no idea what an impact it would have on his life.

"You don't realize what Tops in Blue is going to do to you when you become a part of the group," he said. "It starts with your passion for music and your passion for people and somehow it changes you in the process. Things that bothered me before, no longer bother me."

He said seeing nearly all of the Air Force and the various missions being performed, and the challenging conditions Airmen were performing them under, really changed his perspective.  He was also really impacted upon meeting wounded warriors and others who were suffering for various reasons.

"The outreach we were able to do was amazing. People have to experience it in order to understand the depth of it," he said. "People would tell us how grateful they were for having us there and it would lift our spirits. Sharing our experiences with others and seeing them be inspired by it, it was life changing."

Carter could potentially have performed as part of the very last Tops in Blue tour. The Air Force said it's canceling the program, citing lack of interest as well as fiscal and resource constraints. Carter thinks this canceling permanently would be a monumental mistake.

"I think it would be a shame for the Air Force to lose the gem that is Tops in Blue," he said.  "If more people really understood what it accomplished and how it impacts people's lives, I think there would be no talk about getting rid of it.  People would understand just how valuable it is."

Carter said he made lifelong friends and is forever grateful for the experience, but he is also happy to have normal hours again and that he is able to spend more time with his wife.