TOP STORY >>Base civic leaders saddle up for Rodeo

By Staff Sgt. Kati Garcia
314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. — Civic leaders from around Little Rock are taking part in Air Mobility Command’s Rodeo 2007.

Eight distinguished visitors and their guests are joining the 314th Airlift Wing and the 463rd Airlift Group from Little Air Force Base, Ark., at the biannual competition here at different points throughout the week.

Competition teams and some guests arrived in Washington July 21. Mr. Larry Biernacki, CEO of Arkansas Federal Credit Union, The Honorable Eddie Joe Williams, major of the City of Cabot and retired Brig. Gen. Oliver “Dub” Myers were on board the Team Little Rock C-130s as they descended into the competition arena.

“I can not begin to tell you what an honor it is to be here,” Mayor Williams said. “It’s so humbling to be invited to an event such as this, where we can see our military members in action, first hand.”

Rodeo began in 1962 as a combat sills competition designed to develop and improve techniques/procedures while enhancing air mobility operations, and promoting esprit de corps. In 1979, Rodeo was expanded to include international air mobility partners. It later expanded to include international teams as well.

The competition is designed to test the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation, and maintenance team members.

Scoring events began immediately on Day 1 of the competition, as each team was scored on their ability to reach their “time on target” at Mc Chord AFB within one minute, plus or minus, of their scheduled land time. Teams lost four points per second that they were outside of their one-minute window. The C-130s were also graded on their ability to land within 3,000 feet of a specific target.

Team Little Rock was successful in the first two events. The 314 AW’s C-130J team landed just two seconds over their designated landing time but 58 seconds inside their window, and well within their allotted parameters, earning them full points. The C-130H3 team from AMC’s 463AG matched that time when they arrived less than 30 minutes later. This earned full points for both teams in that event.

Both the 314 AW and the 463 AG then sent 10 randomly chosen team members to a Fit to Fight competition which took place exactly three hours after arrival.

“Each team had 10 people, including their team chief, selected to participation in Fit to Fight,” said Maj. Philip Clinton, 463 AG team chief. “We are scored on Air Force fitness test items — push ups, sit ups and the mile and a half run. But this is an event that we have all been training for.”

Final scores for Fit to Fight will not be announced until closing ceremonies Friday but both teams said they felt confident in their performance.

Rodeo events will be on going for all 55 teams through out the week, with winners in myriad categories announced at the end. Civic leaders will be on hand the entire week. They are observing competitions, strengthening community relationships and ties, and campaigning to bring Rodeo to Little Rock AFB in 2009.

“One of our main goals this week is to lobby to host Rodeo 2009 on home,” Mr. Biernacki said. “We’re confident that we can host the best competition ever seen and make a fantastic event even better for years to come.”