MacDill AFB Airman captures 2010 AMC Icon title

Published Oct. 22, 2010
By Headquarters AMC Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Staff Sgt. Aisha Smith, assigned to the 6th Medical Group at MacDill AFB, Fla., took home top honors at this year's Air Mobility Command Icon competition Oct. 21 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

AMC Icon - based loosely around the TV show, American Idol -- is an AMC commander's initiative designed to showcase the vocal talents of AMC Airmen. In July and August, each of the command's 12 installations conducted a base-level Icon contest; the top-rated active-duty AMC winner at each base-level contest represented their base during the Oct. 21 Command Finals here.

In addition to her first-place finish, Sergeant Smith received a check for $1,000 and a special invitation to audition with the U.S. Air Force's premier entertainment showcase, Tops in Blue.

The MacDill NCO was one of 11 vocalists from around the command - one from each AMC installation - who competed for the coveted AMC Icon title.

Also during the Command Finals, Senior Master Sgt. James Warrick, from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., earned third place and $600, with his rendition of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive;" and Senior Airman Naomi Scott, from Dover AFB, Del., captured second place and $400. Airman Scott entertained the AMC Icon audience with her version of Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova."

Other AMC Icon finalists included:
Master Sgt. Jason Shamis, from Charleston AFB, S.C., singing "History In The Making;"
Staff Sgt. Abigail Foster, Fairchild AFB, Wash., singing "Unforgettable;"
Staff Sgt. Clint Yager, from Little Rock AFB, Ark., singing "I'm Already There."
Technical Sgt. Eric Bailey, from Grand Forks, N.D., singing "It's Getting Better All The Time;"
Senior Airmen Rachel Kleist, from McChord AFB, Wash., signing "At Last;"
Staff Sgt. Brenda Johnson, from McConnell AFB, Kan., singing "Home;"
Staff Sgt. Tim Herrman, from Scott AFB, singing "Desperado;" and
Staff Sgt. Jay Tarnate, from Travis AFB, Calif., who sang "The Freshman."

"It's an awesome feeling; it's surreal," said Sergeant Smith following the competition. "There's a lot of great talent here; any one of us could have won. I'm just thankful. And I couldn't have done it without the [U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America]." The band provided accompaniment for each of the AMC contestants. She also thanked her friends and co-workers at MacDill AFB for all their support and encouragement.

Sergeant Smith - who performed Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" for the hundreds of attendees who packed the Scott Club - said she didn't decide to compete until three days before the base-level contest, which was held July 30 at MacDill's Surf's Edge Club. But, with encouragement from her co-workers and from her squadron commander, she competed and won the MacDill Icon contest.

"I would definitely encourage anyone who likes to sing to step out there and follow their dreams and give it all they have," added the sergeant.

The master of ceremonies for this year's command performance was comedian T.A. Burrows. Known as "The Versatile Entertainer," in addition to comedy, Mr. Burrows is an accomplished writer, poet, actor, master impressionist and vocalist. Mr. Burrows started his entertainment career in the U.S. Air Force. He is an unprecedented, five-time winner of the Air Force Worldwide Talent Competition, and he completed three tours with Air Force Tops in Blue.

Also on hand during this year's Command Finals was a panel of judges that included SMASH, from SmashBand.com; Mandy Murphey, from FOX 2 News in St. Louis; and Dr. Stella Markou, the director of vocal studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

"[The judges] said you sang from the heart. I think you sang from your heart and soul," AMC Commander Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. told the performers after presenting participation awards to each of them. "These were phenomenal performances.

"We have a tough job [in the Air Force], and we make tough decisions, but I wouldn't want to be the three of you," the general added, pointing to the panel of judges.

Before handing the microphone back to the emcee, General Johns took a moment to thank some of the people and units who contributed to the success of this year's AMC Icon command performance.

The general thanked the former AMC commander, Gen. Arthur Lichte, and Sam Parker, of the AMC Manpower, Personnel and Services directorate; both of whom were instrumental in creating the AMC Icon program three years ago. He also spotlighted the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America; the Scott Club staff; the dozens of Scott AFB volunteers; and the video production crews from Hill AFB, Utah, and 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office.

(Editor's note: Click here for a slideshow of photos from the Oct. 21 AMC Icon Command Finals.)

MacDill NCO wins 'AMC Icon' competition at Scott AFB