Top Story>>What is an Airlift Rodeo?

By Ashley Mangin
Volunteer Contributor to the Combat Airlifter

Every two years, Air Mobility Command hosts an airlift rodeo. Rodeo is steeped in Air Force tradition and has a special meaning to The Rock.

Rodeo has evolved over the years and has a rich history beginning almost ten years after the Air Force became its own independent branch. In 1956, Airmen took part in the first ever “Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo.” By 1962, the Rodeo had garnered such success that the Military Air Transport Service, a predecessor of AMC, held a MATS-wide Rodeo. That combat skills competition was the first airdrop competition for active duty Airmen. 1979 saw the introduction of international allies into the rodeo festivities. Barring a short five-year break during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rodeo has been a popular, consistent part of the Air Force.

Rodeo was originally designed as a training exercise, but over the years has proven to be so much more. It has been an opportunity to share, assess and improve training techniques and procedures leading to a more efficient fighting force. It increases cooperation from other countries' air forces as well as improving the squadron level dynamic. Rodeo is a prime place for Airmen to demonstrate their skills and justify the months of training and because Rodeo is a competition someone has to win.

There are events for Aerial Port, Aeromedical Evacuation, Aircrew, Fit to Fight, Maintenance, and Security Forces.

“The 19th Airlift Wing is competing for Best C-130 Aircrew, Best Joint Airdrop Inspection Team, Best C-130 Maintenance Team, Best Aerial Port Team, Best Security Forces Team, Best C-130 Team, Best Fit-to-Fight Team, Best Airland Team, Best Airdrop Team and Best Air Mobility Wing,” said Lt. Col. Ken Kopp, 19th AW Rodeo team chief.

In past years, Little Rock has both dominated and been disappointed, but this year looks hopeful.

“Our strengths this year,” Colonel Kopp said, “are a great team of Ops, Maintenance, LRS and SF
personnel with outstanding support from the wing. We have a solid plan to train and prepare for the events in July, backed by unrivaled support from the Airpower Arkansas folks.”

Behind the scenes is the competition between the 19th AW and the 314th AW. They'll be competing in several events at Rodeo.

“The 314th will demonstrate our excellence in the following categories C-130E/J Airdrop and short field Landing, Joint Airdrop Inspection,” said Lt. Col. Randall Mazzoni, 314th AW Rodeo team chief. “Additionally, we will compete for the best C-130 Aircrew award. C-21s will compete for the best OSA/VIP transportation Award. Our C-130E/J maintainers will compete to be recognized as the Best C-130 Maintenance Team, Best C-130 preflight team, best C-130 postflight team, and the best Maintenance Knucklebuster Team.”

The 314th AW is also hopeful of the outcome at Rodeo this year.

“(Our strengths this year are) the professionalism and expertise of both our aircrew and maintainers,” Colonel Mazzoni said. “The 314 AW has a strong ops-maintenance team, and that will pay dividends throughout the Rodeo competition. As the C-130 Formal Training unit, we have the advantage of having some of the most experienced active-duty personnel assigned here. The combination of real-world contingency operations along with the challenge of training and preparing new C-130 aircrew and maintenance personnel to execute these missions will give us a definite benefit during this competition. Additionally, we enjoy a strong rapport with our local community, and their support to Team Little Rock has greatly aided our preparations.”

The old adage, “It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game” may be true, but the teams from the 19th AW and the 314th AW will both be playing to win.

“Our Rodeo Team is extremely motivated and professional,” said Colonel Mazzoni. “We have years of experience that will enable us to flex to the demanding Rodeo environment. This rodeo will demonstrate that although our mission is to “Train the world’s best C-130 and C-21 Combat Airlifters to fly, fight and win!,” we are more than capable of demonstrating we are the nation’s premier airlifters.”

“As far as the 314th,” said Colonel Kopp, “on the one hand we're all Team Little Rock and are working closely together to support each other preparing for Rodeo and getting to and from McChord. Once we're there, however, it will be "game on" to see which wing can bring home the iron.”