Langley Airman tours with Tops in Blue

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Nagle | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations vehicle operator, took part in the most recent Tops in Blue tour as a bus driver and an audio technician. Roberts said this was the experience of a lifetime, creating lasting memories and friends. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle/Released)  

FORT EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

04.29.2015

Story by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

FORT EUSTIS, Va. - A child sits on the kitchen floor banging pots and pans with various cooking utensils creating “music” to his ears. Little did he know, this intimate, tableside performance was only the initial indication of lifelong passion for music.

That child, now U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, a vehicle operator assigned to the 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, followed his musical desire and went on to play an instrument in his high school marching band, but decided to put his first love on hold to serve his country.

Roberts always had aspirations to see the world, so once he settled into Air Force life, he looked into special duty assignments that would fulfill his ambitions while maintaining his commitment to the defend of the nation.

The minimal knowledge Roberts had of the Tops in Blue tour group was enough to intrigue him so much he submitted an application to the all-Airman performance group that would take him away from his job for more than nine months, to drive their tour buses and be close to what he loves, music.

For the next few weeks, Roberts persistently checked his email in anticipation of an acceptance to travel with the group.

“Once I found out I was accepted, I was ecstatic,” he said. “Knowing I was going to get the opportunity to travel was one of the best feelings in the world.”

Shortly after receiving his acceptance, Roberts traveled to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and trained not only in his job of driving the tour buses, but also learning how to work a sound board. It meant having to adjust to more than 13-hour workdays and new responsibilities. Despite the amount of hard work Roberts and the rest of the tour group had put into training, they were ready to begin visiting bases all over the world, like Aviano Air Base, Italy, and Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

With a mission to promote community relations, support recruiting efforts and serve as ambassadors for the United States of America and the Air Force, Roberts felt the Tops in Blue team opened his eyes to the importance of always acting with the Air Force core values in mind.

“The people on the tour will mold you into a better Airman. We held ourselves and each other to a high standard,” he said. “As ambassadors for the U.S. Air Force and also the United States, we were supposed to be the best of the best and make sure we looked the part.”

Throughout his time touring with the expeditionary ensemble, Roberts saw that even small acts of kindness and appreciation, like handing out candy during the holidays, brought smiles to people defending their country while far away from home and family.

“We were constantly reminded that none of what we did was ever for us. We were there for them. After every show in the desert, we would walk around and thank everyone for coming and pass out small gifts we brought, and I never saw a frowning face in the crowd,” said Roberts. “Being able to bring joy and smiling faces to those in harm’s way during the time they probably missed home the most was humbling to say the least.”

Now back to operating vehicles, Roberts said he tries to find productive things to do with his new active work ethic, such as working on personal music, finding extra tasks to complete at work and volunteering with the community.

“I hope to take what I learned while on tour and continue to put it toward my life now,” said Roberts. “I will always remember the people I met and the memories I made along the way. It was an experience I will never want to forget, and hope to experience again.”

• Date Taken: 04.29.2015
• Date Posted: 04.29.2015 13:31
• Story ID: 161669
• Location: FORT EUSTIS, VA, US