Air Mobility Rodeo 2011: McChord Field's 'combo' team ready to go

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 begins here July 24, and the combined 62nd Airlift Wing and 627th Air Base Group team has been hard at work preparing for the event.

"One of the things we might forget about during rodeo is that we are not only a host, but a competitor as well," said Col. R. Wyn Elder, the 62nd AW commander, at a team introduction on July 8. "And our team is ready to win."

The first rodeo was held in 1956 to showcase the reliability and capability of cargo planes. The bi-annual competition has grown to encompass all aspects of Air Mobility Command, including aerial port, aeromedical evacuation, maintenance, security forces, and for the first time, financial management.

"We've been practicing self-aid and buddy care, running through financial scenarios and even some M-16 and M-9 training," said Tech. Sgt. Kerry Robinson, the financial management team chief. "Our team is more than ready."

Each team prepares for different rodeo competitions. The financial management team will compete in performance-based scenarios, small arms and a fitness course. The aerial port team will compete in engine running on and offload, challenge course, 10-pound-capable forklift driving and pallet build-up competitions. The aircrew team will compete in the airdrop, air refueling and joint airdrop inspection events.

"To prepare for rodeo, we did some off-station training last weekend, which included various low-level flying drills and air drops," said Maj. Scott Huffstetler, the aircrew team chief. "My team is prepared, and we're looking forward to the competition."

The maintenance team will be competing in daily pre- and post-flight observations and refueling events. The security forces team will be competing in combat tactics, combat weapons and combat endurance events.

"This team represents you and what this installation does every single day," Colonel Elder said. "Thank you for all the hard work you've done while preparing for this event."

In 2009, the wing rodeo team here was named  the best post-flight team, best aerial port challenge course team, best C-17 Globemaster III team, best airdrop team and the best air mobility wing.