Posted on Dec 23, 2015
Is the money used for Tops in Blue really worth it or is it used better elsewhere?
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Posted in these groups: 
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Air Force Business Funding
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 15
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If I am not mistaken Tops In Blue funding comes out of the Recruiting Budget. Advertising/Marketing the AF/AFR/ANG in a way, such as this, is a great recruiting tool.
Maybe Sponsoring a NASCAR Team or MMA fighter/fights is where the cuts need to be made?
It's easier to cut internal programs - service members have no choice but to suck it up!
Maybe Sponsoring a NASCAR Team or MMA fighter/fights is where the cuts need to be made?
It's easier to cut internal programs - service members have no choice but to suck it up!
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http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/entertainment/2015/04/09/another-114k-in-mwr-funds-earmarked-for-tops-in-blue/25474955/
I didn't realize how small their budget was. "appropriated funding is stable at $319,000" "Critics have also said that the Air Force's budgeting doesn't account for the salary costs of airmen who are detailed from their jobs for virtually the entire year. The 37 members of the 2015 team are 10 airmen first class, 11 senior airmen, nine staff sergeants, one master sergeant, three second lieutenants, two first lieutenants and a captain. According to their ranks, their salaries cost taxpayers at least another $1 million."
The article doesn't address the GS employees. In 2013, I was deployed and they performed the week of Christmas. I was surprised that 75% of them were civilians.
The next step is to cancel the Thunder Birds. That is a huge expense (pilots, maintainers, air frames, fuel, lodging and per-diem etc.).
I didn't realize how small their budget was. "appropriated funding is stable at $319,000" "Critics have also said that the Air Force's budgeting doesn't account for the salary costs of airmen who are detailed from their jobs for virtually the entire year. The 37 members of the 2015 team are 10 airmen first class, 11 senior airmen, nine staff sergeants, one master sergeant, three second lieutenants, two first lieutenants and a captain. According to their ranks, their salaries cost taxpayers at least another $1 million."
The article doesn't address the GS employees. In 2013, I was deployed and they performed the week of Christmas. I was surprised that 75% of them were civilians.
The next step is to cancel the Thunder Birds. That is a huge expense (pilots, maintainers, air frames, fuel, lodging and per-diem etc.).
Tops in Blue's MWR funding increases 13%
The Air Force's traveling Tops in Blue music troupe is depending more this year on funds raised by morale, welfare and recreation activities -- as corporate sponsorships remain uncertain and congressionally appropriated funding is unchanged from 2014.
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MSgt Wayne Morris
Let alone the airlift cost. The 319K touted is nothing but pure BS. The Thunder Chickens is another cash cow also. In my 23 year career I never met anyone who said they joined up due to seeing the Thunder Chickens.
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CMSgt Charlie Eller
There are no civilians that actually perform in TIB! If there were civilians there they would have been from AF Services and directly involved in the program itself, not in performing. And no way would there have been close to a 75% ratio.
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MSgt (Join to see)
At the beginning of the show, they introduced everyone to include the support technicians. There were only a handful of Active Duty. The majority were civilians and some were performers. They performers in question were prior Active Duty.
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CMSgt Charlie Eller
MSgt (Join to see) - I can't argue with what you say you heard but TIB is for active duty only. https://www.usafservices.com/TopsInBlue/AboutUs.aspx. The link supports that as does a lot of other info. After retiring I worked for AF Services for 17 years and interacted with some of the TIB leadership frequently. The only civilians directly involved were those at AFSVA and others at the AF level and at the bases they performed at.
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It shows the public a different side of our Military. Just like a drill team, or @ airshow doea. Money well spent.
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Getting rid of them is more for show than anything else. It proves the AF is trying to save money in today's limited budget era. But considering the total cost, its really pennies in the big scheme of things.
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I think so. I recall enjoying their shows twice in South Korea and once in Greenland.
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SSgt (Join to see)
My dad saw them in Greenland as well. That was the only time he ever saw them as it broke up the monotony of working and going back to his room.
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MSgt James Mullis
SSgt (Join to see) - They were different times. Back then TV shows were sent to remote sites in large cases of 3/4 inch video tapes every two weeks and phone calls home cost more than $20 for 10 minutes. With the advent of the internet, remote sites have entertainment options that we could only have dreamed of in the 80s and 90s.
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