Photo By Sgt. Judith Dacosta | Senior Airman Saiking D. Jackson, with the 332nd Expeditionary Communication Squadron...... read more read more
Eleven contestants participated in "Balad Idol," an Air Force sponsored 332d Expeditionary Services Squadron event (similar to the Army's Morale, Welfare and Recreation events) modeled after the popular television show "American Idol."
The event showcased the contestants singing and showmanship talents while entertaining troops at Logistical Support Area Anaconda throughout March.
"The competition lasted four weeks," said Senior Master Sgt. Vatema Ivy, the superintendent of services for the 332d ESVS. She said the performances were scheduled for Thursdays and drew crowds of about 175 people per night.
"We started with 11 contestants," said Vatema. "We decided not to boot anyone " because we are all here to have fun. Instead we devised a voting system to determine who the winner would be."
The 332d ESVS numbered and decorated 11 cardboard boxes and lined them up on the stage in front of each performer at the end of each performance night. The audience then voted for their favorite performer by pushing money through a coin-sized slot on top of each box.
"We had people vote with their dollars," said Vatema. "Then, at the end of the third week we counted the money and whoever had the most money, won."
The 332d ESVS used the money gathered from each performance to reward the winners of the competition.
"We had enough money to purchase a digital camera," said Vatema.
"The grand prize was the digital camera with a 256-megabyte card. Second and third place winners received a $100 dollar Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift certificate."
Servicemembers and civilians came to the event each week and on the final night of performances the audience was treated with sandwiches.
"We made arrangements to have Subway deliver 65, foot-long sandwiches," said Zandra Yvette Joiner, an MWR coordinator that helped to organize the event.
The final show lasted more than two hours and included performances from many talented servicemembers such as Capt. Manuel Wong, the 3rd Corps Support Command G-5 operations officer, who imitated the signature stance and musical stylings of Elvis in his rendition of "Viva Las Vegas."
Senior Airman Grant Kinkaid, with the 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, also a crowd favorite whose piercing and whiny rendition of Britney Spears" "Oops I Did it Again," left a four-man panel of judges nearly speechless and a crowd of cheering servicemembers.
"I admire your fire," said one of the judges. "You can't sing â?¦ but you have my vote."
Senior Airman Saiking Jackson, with the 332d Expeditionary Communication Squadron and the second place winner in the competition, sang an original song about the difficulties of love at the final performance.
His even vibrato and smooth delivery impressed many in the room, especially Yahana Hanson, a contractor, who Jackson seemed to single out when he held her hand and dropped to one knee in front of her during the song.
However, Jackson and Hanson were only co-workers, said Hanson who hugged Jackson immediately after the song was completed.
At the end of four weeks of performances, it was the singer of "Sweet Home Alabama" that walked away with a digital camera and the title: "Balad Idol."
"I feel like I did my best tonight," said grand prize winner Spc. Travis Fiest, an 864th Replacement Company Soldier. "I had fun and rocked the crowd," he said.
Fiest also said he thought the camera was a great prize because he didn't have one and it would give him the opportunity to document his tour in Iraq.
Many servicemembers didn't get to see "American Idol" back home, added Fiest. "It was a good thing to have something that reminds us of home like that here in Iraq," he said.
To close the month-long series of performances, Air Force Gen. Frank Gorenc thanked the 332d ESVS for "a neat program that was really fun."
Despite the success of the event, 332d ESVS does not have plans to conduct another Balad Idol during this rotation, said Vatema.
However, they have other events planned throughout the upcoming months to boost servicemember morale such as a Gong Show on Apr. 13, she added.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2006 12:44 |
| Story ID: | 6033 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 24 |
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