GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) -- Five 18th Air Force KC-135 wings came together for the first “Tanker Winter Games” here Feb. 23 through 26.
Crews from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Robins AFB, Ga., MacDill AFB, Fla., Fairchild AFB, Wash., and here gathered not only for some friendly competition, but also for a chance to learn from each other.
“Our primary purpose for this unique gathering was to get the pilots together for professional development. The games are a perfect venue to discuss developing issues affecting the ways we train and fight, as well as build camaraderie in the process,” said Capt. Michael Davis, an event planner.
Those discussions were a major highlight of the games for many.
“It was great to meet my peers and get a chance to communicate our issues and see the issues they are faced with,” said Maj. Nathan Gary, a pilot from MacDill. “The best part was putting a face with the people I interact with on a daily basis.”
North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad addressed the participants before the competitions.
“They are the best in the world, and they’re here to compete … but they’re all part of the same team. At the end of the day, they’re on team USA,” he said.
The games began Feb. 24 with a human dog sled race at the base golf course. The crews braved ankle-deep snow and frigid winds to drag their riders to victory on a sled. Grand Forks’ Warriors of the North, used to tromping through knee-high snow, pulled ahead of the other teams to score the first victory.
The games continued at the base fitness center with a street hockey tournament that ended with Fairchild placing first. Grand Forks took a second “gold medal” with the mile and a half run and Robins took the rock climbing competition and the dodge ball competitions.
When all the scores were added up, Robins took home the gold, with Fairchild coming in second. Grand Forks placed third overall.
After the games, the tankers flew back to their respective bases as a five-plane formation, with a Grand Forks tanker breaking ranks to refuel a McChord AFB C-17. After all, games or not, the mission never waits.