Tops In Blue Tops In Blue is a touring performance ensemble made up of active duty members of the United States Air Force formed in 1953 . For the past 57 years , Tops In Blue has traveled to more than 20 countries to perform more than 120 times each year for airmen and families around the world . They perform in front of more than 250 , 000 military personnel and their families , presenting an average of 120 performances at 100 locations worldwide throughout the United States , Canada , Europe , Central America and the Pacific . Ensemble . The ensemble is composed of 35 vocalists , dancers , musicians and technicians and is considered the Air Force ' s expeditionary entertainment unit . Performers are expected to be in top physical condition because they are their own roadie s . Performers unload of equipment which uses a stage and truss which are built to fit on six pallets or one truck trailer . They spend four hours setting up the stage prior to a show . Their primary purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families throughout the world . They have appeared on national television with Ed Sullivan , Bob Hope , Alabama , Barbara Mandrell , Boyz II Men , Lee Greenwood , and Lea Michele . Tops In Blue is produced by the Entertainment Branch of the Programs Directorate , Headquarters Air Force Services Agency . The program is funded in part by appropriated funds and supplemented with nonappropriated funds that are generated by Air Force people as well as sponsorship by Coca - Cola . They have produced five movies and two albums . The unit is self - contained with its members consisting of four flights : personnel , logistics , operations , and technical . Audition . Candidates for Tops In Blue submit a video performance to Headquarters Air Force Services Agency . If selected for audition , they are flown from all over the world to Lackland AFB for a ten day talent show and multilevel competition judged by former Tops In Blue members . The performers are picked in six categories : male vocalist , female vocalist , instrumentalist , musical variety , dance , and non - musical variety including comedians , magicians , and dramatists . Each year is a new group and past members are not guaranteed to return . Those selected attend a 45 day training period at Lackland AFB . History . Air Force Major Al Reilly created the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest in 1953 , and Tops In Blue began as a tour showcasing the best members of the contest performing at 230 locations in 235 days . Initially , the contest was judged in 14 categories ranging from comedy , drama , pop , jazz , hillbilly , vocal and instrumental . It was judged by celebrities like Barry White , Les Brown , Richard Roundtree , and Esther Williams . In 1954 , Ed Sullivan invited Tops In Blue to perform at Mitchel Air Field , NY on his show " Toast of the Town " where Airman Second Class Jerry Van Dyke led the show as Master of Ceremonies . In 1964 , the Tops In Blue left the stage to record in a movie studio to produce films and records for distribution throughout the Air Force . However , in 1971 Tops in Blue gained Air Force support to return to the stage on their return to live tours in 1972 . Notable events . In 1981 they performed the halftime show at the Garden State Bowl . In 1985 , an expanded production of Tops In Blue performed with help from over 1 , 400 volunteers from Mather AFB at the halftime show of url = http : / / www . journalscene . com / news / Air - Force - s - Tops - in - Blue - to - give - free - performance - for - community | title = Air Force ’ s Tops in Blue to give free performance for community | date = October 19 , 2010 } } < / ref > They performed the National Anthem in 2005 for Game 6 of the [ [ NBA Finals and in 2009 at the [ [ 2009 Coca - Cola 600 | Coca - Cola 600 ] ] . They presented a map - shaped American flag during performances of the National Anthem by [ [ Josh Groban ] ] at Game 1 of the 2002 World Series and [ [ Carrie Underwood ] ] at the 2006 Major League Baseball All - Star Game , At the pregame show at url = http : / / www . airforcetimes . com / news / 2011 / 01 / airforce - tops - blue - 013111w / | title = Tops in Blue to perform at Super Bowl | date = January 31 , 2011 } } < / ref > External links . [ [ Category : United States Air Force personnel ] ] [ [ Category : United States Air Force ] ] [ [ Category : American military bands ] ] [ [ Category : Musical groups established in 1953 ] ]