Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Page 10
By SSG Michael Roads
On 23 May, military and civilian personnel on BAF were treated
to the first ever Gauntlet Idol. The production was modeled after
the popular US tv show, American Idol. Sixteen contestants auditioned for a panel of 3 musicians from the CJTF-10 Band, who
went on to name the top 8 contestants to appear in the semifinals. The 8 contestants were:
CPT Thomas Johnson, 10th Sustainment Brigade
SGT Elise Crider, 814th ASMC MED
PFC DJ Perkins, 10th Sustainment Brigade
SSG Freddie Hurt, 291st MP Company
SPC Audra Boss, CJTF-10 CJ6
SPC Lisa Mannion, 1BCT, 82nd Airborne
SPC Cassandra Quinn, CJTF-10 ISC
SPC Angela Ross, 211th MP Company
Each of the 8 semi-finalists spent a week rehearsing with the
CJTF-10 Band, culminating with a final performance on stage in
front of an audience of 250 at the BAF Clamshell. The contestants brought a wide variety of musical styles to the stage, including R&B, Rock, Country, Broadway, and one who wrote her own
music. Four finalists were chosen by a panel of 5 senior leaders
from around BAF.
First place was almost too close to call, as CPT Johnson wowed
the crowd with the song “The Impossible Dream” from the Broadway musical“Man of La Mancha”, while SPC Mannion amazed
and amused with her own composition, “Stinkfoot”. In the end,
CPT Johnson edged ahead to become the OEF XV Gauntlet Idol
Champion.