It might have taken nearly 10 years and six auditions, but Tech. Sgt. Katie Badowski can finally call herself a member of Tops in Blue.

Badowski was selected last week as a member in the singing ensemble of the 2010 team, an all-active duty Air Force special unit made up of talented amateur performers selected for their entertainment abilities.

"It's something I've wanted for the longest time," said the 446th Mission Support Group airman from JBLM-McChord Field. "It's almost unreal."

Since entering the Air Force as an 18-year-old on active duty, the North Thurston High graduate made it one of her goals to be selected for Tops in Blue. After completing her four-year commitment, Badowski joined the Air Force Reserve and continued her quest.

Despite coming up short in the years leading up to her selection, she never lost sight of her goal.

"She's been willing to put in the hard work to take it to the next level," said Steven Badowski, Katie's father and a senior master sergeant in the Air Force Reserve stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga. "For her to be part of a prestigious team like Tops in Blue, we're pretty proud."

Already a seasoned veteran of the audition process, Badowski sent in a performance tape of her singing a song out of the Mary Poppins musical. She was then invited to San Antonio, Texas, to perform in front of a live audience.

"You're sick of (singing the song) by the time you leave (the auditions)," Badowski, 30, said with a laugh.

The airman, who works as a mortuary specialist with the 446th MSG, always sung in her church choir growing up, and even holds a bachelor's degree in music from Oregon State University. Her father thinks her vocal talents come from her grandfather, but he is sure of one thing: his daughter has always been a fighter.

"Katie has always surprised us by overcoming what appeared to be insurmountable odds against her, from when she was born prematurely and they didn't expect her to live to early problems with her eyesight affecting her school work," said Steven, who's looking forward to traveling with his wife to see the show when it visits a base in the southeast. "She has always had a love for dance and music so it brings great pleasure to my wife Gale and me to see her get her dream tour."

The technical sergeant knows the one-year tour will be filled with travel and plenty of hard work, but she said the rewards outweigh everything.

"It's going to be long days, but that hour and a half show is going to be worth it," said Badowski, who left Tuesday to start the tour.