Saddling up: McConnell's Rodeo teams get ready to move em out

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FOCE BASE, Kan. --  From the Kansas runway to the skies of Washington, the skills of mobility operations will be judged before McConnell's KC-135 Stratotanker touches the ground at the 2007 Air Mobility Command Rodeo competition held July 22-28 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.

McConnell's Rodeo teams are currently at work preparing for their moment to show AMC how they intend to lasso the first place trophy. The Rodeo is a competition held to highlight the importance of mobility skills throughout the Air Force by exhibiting each team member's core job performance abilities that Airmen use on an everyday basis.

"(We expect) to win. More importantly as ambassadors of Team McConnell, I expect us to provide a snapshot of the teamwork, professionalism, dedication and sacrifice made by all the men and women of McConnell," said Lt. Col. Troy Davis, 349th Air Refueling Squadron and Rodeo team commander.

"As Rodeo team members, we recognize that there are many deployed comrades who are caring the torch while we train and compete in the Rodeo events. The sacrifice on their part is not taken lightly," he said. "It would be a great honor to take home some hardware reflective of their service and dedication to this great country and our wing."

For the past three months, teams of representatives from McConnell's air refueling and maintenance squadrons along side a three person team from the security forces squadron have been training early in the morning and late into the night for the weeklong competition.

The Rodeo will include air refueling, short ground landings, air orbit exercises, timed joint inspection of cargo loads, pre and post flight inspection, as well as ground operations.

Not only will the team members be put to the test in their respective career fields, but they will also be physically tested during a combat endurance course that consists of 21 obstacles and a "fit to fight" competition.

A 1.5 mile run may not seem like much for an Air Force member to endure, but some of McConnell's Rodeo participants have been making their practice runs and sprints while wearing their gas masks, boots and uniforms and have been doing some hard-core physical training in the fitness center several times a week.

"We all push each other regardless of what we are doing, whether its running with gas masks on, shooting or rucking," said Staff Sgt. Gregory Podobensky, 22nd Security Forces Squadron Rodeo team member.

"Seeing where we started and where are now is a big difference," said Sergeant Podobensky. "We are stronger, faster and bigger - that motivates us a lot."

Security forces participants will also be able to highlight their marksmanship abilities in a weapons competition that tests their ability to engage targets over rough terrain using the M9 pistol and M874 shotgun.

The Rodeo aircrew has also been practicing meeting and refueling other aircraft at designated locations at specific times, which is something the teams are graded on during competition.

"Its like doing a dance; everyone has to know their steps," said Maj. Mike Morman, 349th Air Refueling Squadron, Rodeo aircrew team member.

Even during the flight to McCord, the tanker must arrive within one minute of its expected time of arrival, said Maj. Morman.

Before the plane takes off to the competition, maintainers will be combing over the aircraft prior to launch, making sure nothing is missed during pre flight preparations. The thoroughness of the Rodeo maintenance team's fine-tooth combing of the aircraft and its cargo will be examined at the competition.

"I expect us, as a maintenance team, to perform to the best of our abilities giving it the best effort we can give and to also having fun at the same time," said 1st Lt. Blane Neufeld, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Rodeo team chief.

"We have a very versatile group of people, even though we are a mix of crew chiefs and specialists; everybody is pretty well versed in each other's jobs. It allows for us to cover each other's backs when completing our inspections," Lt. Blane said. "It's like we have three or four sets of eyes on every thing we do."


Much to people's dismay, Rodeo competitors will not be trading in their combat boots for cowboy ones. They will be showcasing McConnell's finest talent.

With all the effort and time they have put towards training, along with the support from Team McConnell, hopefully they will show AMC who "the best of the best" really is in less than 10 days.