Tyndall duet: Two lieutenants strike a chord with Tops in Blue

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rojek
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AETCNS) --  Not everyone can sing the songs that make the whole world sing, but two Tyndall lieutenants are vying for a chance to at least sing around the world.

First Lt. Carolynn Czepiga, 325th Fighter Wing protocol, and 2nd Lt. Paul Kocel, 325th Air Control Squadron air battle manager student, are at Lackland AFB, Texas, through Nov. 14 trying out for Tops in Blue.

Tops in Blue is the Air Force's all-active duty entertainment group. They perform musical and dance numbers, and both lieutenants hope to become a part of the 35-member team.

While Lieutenant Czepiga says singing is more of a hobby for her, joining Tops in Blue would allow her to share her feelings about being in the service.

"Every time I sing in uniform, it gives me a great sense of pride," she said. "I want others to feel that same thing."

She has been able to show her pride of service by singing at base events such as the Chiefs and Eagles softball game and downtown at the Indian Summer Festival. Yet her singing started much earlier.

"I've been singing since I was a little girl," Lieutenant Czepiga said. "It runs in the family - my mom used to sing and my dad was in a college band."

She sang at church, and before joining the service, she regularly sang the National Anthem for the Trenton Thunder, a minor league baseball team in New Jersey.

Lieutenant Kocel is not a stranger to performing, either. The Cleveland native began singing and dancing in high school. It all started with wrestling.

"While I was a wrestler, I heard that NFL football players took dance classes to get better on the field," he said. "I thought if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for me."

He found out he had a knack for dancing and took it to the stage with some musical theater performances.

It was right out of high school that he got his first singing gig, said the lieutenant. He worked steadily as a performer for the next few years, doing shows at major theme parks, national entertainment tours, as well as acting in a music video for the rock band Godsmack. But the events of Sept. 11, 2001, changed his direction.

"I have a long family history of military service," Lieutenant Kocel said. "I wanted to join, but the timing wasn't right. That is until Sept. 11."

He said performing just didn't seem meaningful anymore. He was commissioned through Officer Training School in August, and it was there he heard about Tops in Blue.

"I was able to make people smile when performing before," Lieutenant Kocel said. "But by performing for the troops, I get to make a real difference. I can give deployed troops a chance to relax and a taste of home."

In order to get to that point, the two lieutenants must go through a rigorous try-out against 75 other performers, Lieutenant Czepiga said. There will be a series of seminars, rehearsals, interviews and evaluations.

"You have to show how well you can pick up what they teach you, as well as show some effort," she said.

Performers selected for Tops in Blue will go through a 45-day training period, immediately followed by a nine-month tour schedule. They do everything from sing, dance and play instruments, to all the technical work and logistics.

Although he's optimistic about getting to be a part of an experience like Tops in Blue, Lieutenant Kocel said no matter what, he'll be where the Air Force needs him.

"I'm here to do what the Air Force tells me," he said. "Right now they want me to try out for Tops in Blue."