Mildenhall Airman makes Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christine Griffiths
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  An Airman from the 100th Security Forces Squadron is one of 37 in the Air Force to be chosen to be a part of the Tops in Blue cast of 2015.

Airman 1st Class Javier Rodriguez, 100th SFS response force member from Rochester, N.Y., has been stationed at RAF Mildenhall for one year and has been in the Air Force since August 2013.

Rodriguez has been playing the saxophone since the fourth grade and has grown to love it more and more every day.

"I started playing in elementary school and then got really into it, so I auditioned for a performing arts school in sixth grade, got in and stayed in until I graduated," he said. "I did a lot, I played in a bunch of jazz festivals and national competitions for school. In those types of schools, half the day you're in regular, everyday school classes and the other half you're playing your instrument.

"I also took private lessons, picked up the piano a bit, started singing as well and when I graduated I moved to Florida to do music full time," Rodriguez recalled. "A year later I went to school on a music scholarship and did that for about two to three years, then funding got cut for the program.  I continued music on the side, met my wife, got married and then I joined the Air Force."

Prior to joining the Air Force, he auditioned for the Army Reserve Band and made it in. Unfortunately, no slots were open.
He then went to the Air Force recruiter, hoping for the same sort of job. When he had no luck with that, he asked for the first available job - which turned out to be security forces.

Since being stationed here, Rodriguez has performed for several ceremonies on base.
"I've played for my first sergeants retirement, I've played at the 100th Air Refueling Wing awards ceremony and I've also played at the chief promotion ceremony."

He first heard of Tops in Blue while in technical school.

"I didn't know about it, until then," he said. "I had a military training leader who heard me sing and told me that I should audition for Tops in Blue. She put me in contact with one of her friends who used to do it, and that's when I started learning about the program.

"When I came here, I actually saw them perform.  After the show I met the cast and we spoke a bit. They asked 'Do you want to play for us?' I said 'Sure.'  So I played for them and that was actually my audition tape for the competition."

After waiting to hear back if he had made it or not he was later notified by his leadership - stating he made it to the competition.

He then attended an eight day TDY, performing in vocal, instrument and dance auditions along with a formal interview and attended several seminars pertaining to how to be an Airman and performer.

"We had multiple give-backs, which means we had hours to prepare for a show to give back to the community, so my team (we were broken up into four teams) went to the Veterans Affairs office. We sang for the VA, the Wounded Warrior Center and Child Development Center.

"On the last day, we had a formal banquet where they announced awards," Rodriguez said. "There were 60 people there competing and only half of us made it. So a lot of the time I was very focused and nervous. But the second I hit the stage, it turned into excitement!"

He won first place in the instrumentalist category along with Best in Show.
After making it back to RAF Mildenhall a few weeks later, he was presented with the news on whether or not he made the team.

"It was kind of funny - I was getting off work and saw Senior Master Sgt. Mario White, 100th SFS Operations superintendent, and we started talking about the competition. Then little by little, other leadership started showing up, talking about it and telling me how proud they are of me."

100th SFS commander, Major Jeffrey Adams, then walked in and shook Rodriguez's hand, congratulating him and asked when he would find out if he'd made the cut.

"I told him that was up to him," the saxophone player said. "Maj. Adams added he thought I had a good shot. Then he said, 'as your commander, I hope you have fun on tour ...' At first it didn't register and all I could say was 'Thanks!' Then everyone started clapping. By that time all my leadership was in a circle congratulating me. It took a little while for me to realize what had just happened."

Along with his leadership being excited, his family is very proud and happy for him as well.

"They're all thrilled, a lot of things happened in a short amount of time ... Like right before I left, I got senior airman below-the-zone, and also found out that my wife and I are having a baby.

"It hasn't quite hit me yet until I get there, but it's exciting."