Is the money used for Tops in Blue really worth it or is it used better elsewhere?

For us old timers, I always enjoy a good show and appreciate what they bring in the way of morale. I suppose I think more in terms of USO shows, Bob Hope and the such.

Tops in Blue certainly displays very good talent, and can be a morale builder when deployed. However, the restrictions placed on the type of shows they may give may not resonate with the younger troops these days and instant gratification can be found no father than an iPod and a good natured slap on the back.

I think they may have outlived their usefulness with today's generation and as we scan around the globe looking for dollars to pay for readiness, medical, equipment, etc its probably time to move on and retire this group. Maybe in some far away time the Tops in Blue can be resuscitated and brought back to life, and provide that entertainment value of yesteryear.

This is a touchy subject. I don't have an issue with the AF band/Tops in Blue when we have money but when the Air Force decided to cut massive amounts of personnel and benefits before considering these wasteful programs...it could be used better elsewhere. Temporarily shut them down and reclass all the band members to undermanned career fields until we are through the tough times. I compare this to being homeless living on the street and someone hands you $20, are you gonna buy a CD or go to a concert with that money? I had the privilege of working AMD, while deployed, where we scheduled all cargo/passengers movement through the AOR. These guys have dedicated missions for just them to tour the AOR. The money wasted adds up quickly.

SSgt (Join to see)
It's a tiny pittance in the grand scheme, but as a symbol of stupid spending carries a lot of weight.