AMC competition wraps up: 6th AMW takes Rodeo crown

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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  The 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., was named Best Air Mobility Wing on June 24 following Rodeo 2005 at McChord AFB, Wash.

Rodeo 2005, Air Mobility Command’s international competition that focuses on improving the skills of air mobility professionals, ended June 24. The weeklong competition included airdrop, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, security forces procedures, short-field landings and related ground operations. During Rodeo, aerial refuelers and airlifters demonstrated capabilities, improved procedures, compared notes and enhanced standardization for worldwide operations.

"I had very good discussions with (Gen. John W. Handy, AMC commander) about the success stories that have come out of this competition," said Brig. Gen. David S. “Scott” Gray, Rodeo 2005 commander. "Events throughout the week have emphasized how correct his decision was to hold Rodeo 2005."

Besides tipping his hat to McChord for the "over-the-top" support the base provided during the eight-day mobility competition, General Gray said the spirit, esprit de corps and morale of the international competitors was amazing.

"The international teams were great," he said. "Their desire to roll up their sleeves and get involved with us is what Rodeo is all about."

General Gray also pointed to the lack of accidents and injuries during this year's event.

"It has been an incredible week,” he said. “We’ve been absolutely lucky as can be with the lack of accidents and injuries. But you make your own luck. I think everybody has been vigilant and aware. They have had tremendous wingman considerations. We’ve had some great saves and some smart decisions."

“I was really impressed by the spirit of competition and all the challenging tasks (the teams) have performed," added Lt. Col. Steve Panger, Rodeo chief of safety. "They have a phenomenal safety record coming out of here. I’m very impressed by everybody’s attitude toward safety and how they always focused on the safety aspect of the competition events.”

Besides the award for Best Air Mobility Wing, more than 60 awards were presented throughout the mobility competition. Other award winners are:

-- Fit to Fight: 715th Air Mobility Operations Group at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

-- Best Aeromedical Endurance Course Crew: 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

-- Best C-5 Galaxy Preflight Team: 60th AMW at Travis AFB, Calif.

-- Best C-17 Globemaster III Preflight Team: 446th AW at McChord.

-- Best C-130 Hercules Preflight Team: Germany.

-- Best KC-10 Extender Preflight Team: 60th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Stratotanker Preflight Team: 19th Air Refueling Group at Robins AFB, Ga.

-- Best Intransit Visibility Team: 62nd AW at McChord.

-- Best Joint Inspection Team: 60th AMW.

-- Top Shooter: Tech. Sgt. Jesse Chervinka of the 375th AW here.

-- Security Forces Best Combat Tactics Team: 62nd AW.

-- Security Forces Best Combat Weapons Team: 375th AW.

-- Maintenance Knucklebuster Award: 60th AMW.

-- Security Forces Best Combat Endurance Course Team: 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB, Wash.

-- Best Aerial Port Confidence and Endurance Course Team: 62nd AW.

-- Best Aerial Port 10K Forklift Operators: 97th AMW at Altus AFB, Okla.

-- Best Aerial Port 60K Tunner Team: 89th AW at Andrews AFB, Md.

-- Best KC-10 Cargo Loading Crew: 305th AMW at McGuire AFB, N.J.

-- Best KC-135 Cargo Loading Crew: 6th AMW.

-- Best Joint Airdrop Inspection Team: 43rd AW at Pope AFB, N.C.

-- Best C-5 Engine Running Offload Team: 60th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Engine Running Offload Team: 446th AW.

-- Best C-130 Engine Running Offload Team: Royal Air Force team, England.

-- Best Enroute Engine Running Offload Team: 721st AMOG at Ramstein.

-- Best Aeromedical Contingency Flight Crew: 43rd AW.

-- Best C-5 Postflight Team: 97th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Postflight Team: 305th AMW.

-- Best C-130 Postflight Team: 314th AW at Little Rock AFB, Ark.

-- Best KC-10 Postflight Team: 305th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Postflight Team: 92nd ARW.

-- Best C-5 Maintenance Team: 60th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Maintenance Team: 62nd AW.

-- Best C-130 Maintenance Team: 314th AW.

-- Best KC-10 Maintenance Team: 60th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Maintenance Team: 19th ARG.

-- Best DV Airlift Crew: 375th AW.

-- Best C-5 Air Refueling Crew: 97th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Air Refueling Crew: 446th AW.

-- Best KC-10 Air Refueling Crew: 60th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Air Refueling Crew: 319th ARW at Grand Forks AFB, N.D.

-- Best Air Refueling Team: 319th ARW (tanker) and 305th AMW (receiver).

-- Best C-17 Airdrop Crew: 446th AW.

-- Best C-130 Airdrop Crew: 314th AW.

-- Best C-17 Shortfield Landing Crew: 97th AMW.

-- Best C-130 Shortfield Landing Crew: 86th AW.

-- Best C-5 Aircrew: 97th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Aircrew: 446th AW.

-- Best C-130 Aircrew: 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock.

-- Best KC-10 Aircrew: 60th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Aircrew: 6th AMW.

-- Best Security Forces Team: 92nd ARW.

-- Best Aerial Port Squadron: 62nd AW.

-- Best Aeromedical: 86th AW.

-- Best C-5 Wing: 60th AMW.

-- Best C-17 Wing: 446th AW.

-- Best C-130 Wing: 314th AW.

-- Best KC-10 Wing: 60th AMW.

-- Best KC-135 Wing: 6th AMW.

-- Best International Team: No. 47 Squadron at RAF Lyneham, England.

-- Best Airland Wing: 60th AMW.

-- Best Airdrop Wing: 314th AW.

-- Best Tanker Wing: 60th AMW. (Courtesy of AMC News Service)