FORT STEWART, Ga. - The sing-off competition of Operation Rising Star, coordinated by Fort Stewart's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation specialist Shannon Williams, went for another round at Stewart's Rocky's Zone, Sept. 6. Marne Division Soldiers and Family Members compete for the grand prize of an all-expense paid, three-day professional recording studio experience in Hollywood, Calif. Of the 20 contestants who moved onto the next level of Operation Rising Star, just 10 will move onto next week's competition.

Now in its fourth year, Operation Rising Star is the Army's version of the popular show American Idol. Contestants include Soldiers and Family Members 18 years old and above, who compete for the number one spot. This Army-wide competition runs through September and closes in October. After the winners are selected, they will compete against each other in becoming America's next Operation Rising Star.

While many Marne Division contestants share the same drive in earning that number one spot -- the grand prize -- only three will win the local cash prizes. First place winner will win $500 cash and the opportunity to move to the next level. Second place winner will receive $250 cash and third place winner will win a $100 cash prize.

During the second round of Stewart's Operation Rising Star, the contestants performed with music. The opening performance did not include music. The contestants sang a cappella to a song of their choosing. From the opening, five contestants were not selected to move on, leaving 20 in the running.

For Family Member Bria Caruthers who moved onto the next stage, she says that she enjoys being on stage. She said that singing is her passion and that the talent of singing makes her unique.

"It's really fun," she said. "It's a different type of feeling being on stage and singing in front of people. The good thing about singing is that it is a talent that not everybody has. It is something that makes me different from everybody else."

Caruthers is no stranger to the world of singing. She recently participated in the Teen Star Search competition back in June, which took place at Fort Stewart's Youth Center. She says that she has been singing since she was four-years-old and feels that her talent sets her apart from her peers.

"At the final, there will be five contestants and they will be singing to music," Williams said. "In that show, we will choose our local winner who will have the opportunity to compete on the national Army-wide level."

The next show will take place at 7 p.m., Sept. 13, at Rocky's Zone. For more information about Operation Rising Star, call 912-767-4316 or visit www.armymwr.com/recleisure/promotions/operation_rising_star.aspx.