Page "Blue Angels" Paragraph 17

Applicants " rush " the team at one or more airshows, paid out of their own finances, and sit in on team briefs and post-show activities and social events.

Rushes are asked to tell a joke prior to the brief, and graded by the team as part of the rigorous selection process.

Team members vote in secret on the next year's members, with no accountability to the higher Navy authority why an applicant was or was not selected.

Selections must be unanimous.

There have been female and racial minority staff officers as official Blue Angel members, in support of the Blue Angels recruiting for the Navy and Marine Corps.

The most recent minority Blue Angel pilot was LCDR Keith Hoskins on the 2000 team.

Flight surgeons serve a two-year term, and act as the team recorder during air shows, and help oversee emergency response planning with the various air show planners.

The first female Blue Angel flight surgeon was LT Tamara Schnurr, as a member of the 2001 team.