McChord Airman to compete at Scott AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker
  • Air Mobility Command Icon Program Marketing
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  A McChord Airman will compete in the AMC Icon finals Oct. 22 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Team McChord's Icon finalist, Airman 1st Class Rachel Kleist, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, out-sang 11 Airmen recently to win the base-level competition and the opportunity to represent the 62nd Airlift Wing at the command level during Air Mobility Command's Icon finals. 

Air Mobility Command will host the AMC Icon finals 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. CST, Thurs., Oct. 22 at the Scott Club with the event featuring a special performance by AMC's own Air Force Band of Mid America. 

"I'm nervous but also excited," said Airman Kleist. "I will sing "Anyway" by Martina McBride and the challenge right now is building my confidence in front of an audience."

"This is the biggest thing I've ever done as far as singing goes so it's an experience," she said.

As an added feature, the command finals will be broadcast to AMC installations planning an Icon viewing party. All AMC installations will receive a DVD of the command performance for use on their installations.

"AMC Icon provides Air Force vocalists an opportunity to shine and this year we have some truly exceptional talent," said Sam Parker, program manager for ICON.

AMC Icon is loosely based around the hit TV show, American Idol. Icon features active-duty Air Force vocalists who competed from all 12 AMC bases plus one competitor from an AMC affiliate unit.

Participants are competing for $2,000 in cash prizes, and the winner also receives a special invitation to audition with the Air Force Tops in Blue - the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase. One of last year's Icon contestants, Senior Airman Jeffery Collins from Dover Air Force Base, Del., is currently touring with Tops In Blue.

Participants in the 2009 Icon command performance include:

· Staff Sgt. Shawn Summers, Charleston AFB, S.C.
· Tech. Sgt. Latisa Eddy, Dover AFB, Del.
· Capt. Manuela Peters, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
· Airman 1st Class Marshall Merriweather, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
· Staff Sgt. Latanza Meabon-Whiteside, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
· Senior Master Sgt. Craig Hall, MacDill AFB, Fla.
· Airman 1st Class Rachel Kleist, McChord AFB, Wash.
· Staff Sgt. Doug Boren, McConnell AFB, Kan.
· Master Sgt. Lisa White, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
· Airman 1st Class Charlie Parker, Pope AFB, N.C.
· Staff Sgt. Rick Bislich, Scott AFB
· Staff Sgt. Janina Morrison, Travis AFB, Calif.
· Senior Airman Anthony Kingston, Andrews AFB (AMC affiliate unit), Md.

The master of ceremonies for the command performance is Tech. Sgt Walter Campbell. Sergeant Campbell has toured with Tops in Blue performing throughout the United States and around the world. 

Additionally, a special panel of judges will be on hand to select the best of the best. The judges include two St. Louis radio personalities, "Smash" from FM 103.3, and "Cornbread" from FM 92.3. The third member of the judges' panel and special guest performer, is Stella Markou, director of vocal studies at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Ms. Markou is also a local recording artist and theatrical performer.

"AMC Icon supports the command's commitment to the Year of the Military Family and promises to be an outstanding program," said Mr. Parker.

 AMC Icon is an AMC commander initiative designed to showcase the vocal talents of the AMC communities.

(Scott Black, Air Mobility Command Icon Program Marketing, Scott AFB, Ill., contributed to this story.)