GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Crossroads is usually a haven for trainees from instructors and leadership, but on Friday the leadership were welcomed as judges for the annual Talent Show on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas Sept. 29.
Nine trainees from Goodfellow, consisting of Air Force and Marines, competed and showed off their skills in singing, guitar, poetry and piano, before a standing room only crowd.
For the last two years, the Marines have walked away with the prize, but this year the Air Force pulled it off and left as the winners.
Airman Lana Jess II, 315th Training Squadron trainee, came in first place by singing “Made This Way” by Travis Greene while playing the piano.
“It shows that dedication pays off,” said Jess. “I come to the Crossroads every day and I have been playing for about five years. I wouldn't have been able to pull that song off like I did if I didn’t put the time into it. You have to put your heart into whatever you do, and it has to be an extension of you.”
Airman Diondra Watson, 315th Training Squadron trainee, received recognition for her bellowing performance of “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston. The performance by U.S. Marine Pfc. Jared Armes, Marine Corps Detachment trainee, who sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra, had the crowd using their cell phones as lighters.
The reactions from the crowd with each performance showed that the contestants were giving it their all.
While the main focus was on the competition, the other goal was to relax and have a good time. The Crossroads is an area where trainees are free to be themselves without instructors and is why it was chosen for the event.
“Crossroads is really important to me,” said Airman 1st Class April Demsko, 315th Training Squadron trainee, the event coordinator. “It is important to me for people to have a place where they can relax and call home.”
One of the judges, Col. Jeffrey Sorrell, 17th Training Wing vice commander, touched on the topic of showing that there is more to the trainees that come through Goodfellow than just the skills that they learn while in class.
“I love this event,” said Demsko. “It was my squadron who won the competition and was great to see all of the performances. Seeing this many people come out, relax and have a good time especially with how many seemed to enjoyed it means a lot.”