Air Mobility Rodeo 2007, Air Mobility Command's biennial readiness competition, began with a whinny, as Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of AMC, and Brig. Gen. Kip Self, Air Expeditionary Center commander and the trail boss of Rodeo 2007, rode into the opening ceremonies at McChord AFB, Washington, 22 July, on horseback.
The weeklong competition included flying, maintenance, aeromedical evacuation, and security forces events. Thirty-four teams flying C-130, C-17, and Transall C-160 twin-engine airlifters competed in airdrop, short-field landing, and combat offload. All crews had to complete the engine running on/offload event. C-5 crews also participated in aerial refueling and instrument approach events.
Active duty US Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, and US Marine Corps units participated at Rodeo. The three Marine competitors flew both earlier model KC-130 and KC-130J cargo/tanker aircraft. Two C-130J units participated. Seven of the nine international countries competing flew legacy C-130s, including a 1960-vintage C-130B. Twenty-four countries sent observers to the event.
The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, California, dominated the competition, winning seventeen category awards as well as the event's top honor, Best Air Mobility Team.
"Team Travis demonstrated pride, professionalism, and our true passion for excellence at Rodeo," said Col. Steven Arquiette, 60th AMW commander. "While the 60th won the overall best of the best title, we couldn't have trained and competed as strongly as we did without the great day-to-day support from our Reserve partners in the 349th Air Mobility Wing."
The 60th Air Mobility Wing is the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force, flying C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III transports as well as the KC-10 Extender tanker. Travis competed with all three aircraft at Rodeo 2007.
The Best C-5 Engine Running Onload Team award went to the 439th Airlift Wing, the Air Force Reserve Command Galaxy unit at Westover ARB, Massachusetts.
On the C-130 side of Rodeo, the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB, Texas, claimed awards for Best Airdrop and Best C-130/C-160 Team, while the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, won Best C-130 Maintenance and Postflight Team awards. Little Rock competed with both a C-130E and a C-130J.
Air Mobility Rodeo dates back to 1956, when the thirteen troop carrier wings of the Continental Air Command, Air Force Reserve Command's predecessor, sent crews to participate in a competition at Bakalar AFB, Indiana. The first airdrop competition for units of the active duty force occurred in April 1962. The competition was designed to develop and improve techniques and procedures while enhancing air mobility operations and promoting esprit de corps. Rodeo was expanded in 1979 to include international air mobility competitors.
The next Air Mobility Rodeo will be held in mid-2009.
Some of the awards the Travis team claimed include: Best Air Mobility Team, Best Airland Team, Best C-5 Air Refueling Aircrew, Best C-5 Postflight Team, Best C-5 Maintenance Team, Best C-5 Aircrew, Best C-5 Team, and Maintenance Knucklebuster Award.
Jeff Rhodes is the associate editor of Code One.
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