Cowboy up! Team McConnell returns from Air Mobility Rodeo 2005 competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Angelique Smythe
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  After an entire week of competition against more than 30 international and U.S. teams, the wearied 22nd Air Refueling Wing Air Mobility Rodeo 2005 competitors returned home to the joyful cheers of a welcoming party June 25. 

After months of training to perfect their skills, 17 McConnell members flew on a KC-135 Stratotanker to the Air Mobility Rodeo 2005 competition at McChord AFB, Wash., June 18, to show the world their air refueling, defending, and maintenance abilities.
Rodeo is an Air Mobility Command international competition that focuses on improving the skills of air mobility professionals. It tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews and aeromedical evacuation Airmen as well as the related skills of ground support teams like security forces, aerial port operations and maintenance. 

This competition attracted approximately 2,000 competitors, including those from six nations (Brazil, France, Germany, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom). Several countries also sent crews to observe, but not compete, in the events.
Competing aircraft included the KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and a French C-160 Transall. 

"These crewmembers were sent by their wings and their nations to represent them, having gone through intense training to hone their skills to be the best warfighters there are," said Royal Air Force Wing Commander Martin Walsh, Rodeo 2005 chief umpire.
The competition officially kicked off June 19. All teams were graded on the punctuality of their arrival landing time June 18. McConnell landed right on time and was off to a great start. 

The first event McConnell participated was the Fit to Fight competition. This required the basic push-ups, sit-ups and 1.5 mile run to be performed in accordance with Air Force Instructions 10-248. The team chief, Lt. Col. Steve Donovan, and two 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron members were selected by the umpire. 

"It was one of the hardest fitness tests we've ever taken," said Colonel Donovan. "We spent all day in the sun and most people hadn't had much sleep. But every base was ready to compete and the competition was very good." 

Colonel Donovan maxed his scores; however, he said the other two competitors were exhausted before the competition. They had been up for 23 hours due to traveling, in-processing and other events. 

"We had a long night and no sleep going into it," said Senior Airman Matthew Zimmerman, the second competitor. "We were more worried about the preflight than the fit to fight, but I had a good time and it was a good competition." 

The third competitor was Senior Airman David Vaughn. 

On June 20, the KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew took off to perform in the air refueling competition. 

"The air refuelers simulate their basic missions, which is to provide fuel on time at the right place to identified aircraft," said Wing Commander Walsh. 

Air refuelers were scored on being at the right place at the right time. If the receiving aircraft was in the same place at the same time, they received maximum points. 

During these missions, umpires determined if they met criteria such as crossing over a designated point at the right time and following safety procedures. 

"Because these are the best of the best, the biggest challenges are unpredictable - the weather or the environment," Wing Commander Walsh said. 

McConnell's air refueling crew faced some challenging turbulence June 20. But, according to umpires Lt. Col. Joseph Smarsh and Master Sgt. Jeff Whited, the crew was well prepared, had great communication with each other and did a great job despite the turbulence. 

"Their time over target was really good," Colonel Smarsh said. "The only problem occurred when they joined with the (receiving aircraft). They had some bad luck running into turbulence, but overall, they handled it well." 

Moderate turbulence began shortly after the KC-135 established contact with the C-17. 

"I had to pull the boom off because they shot to the left ... at a very rapid pace," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Calisi, boom operator. "If I hadn't disconnected and taken the 50-point deduction, I would have taken a safety-of-flight violation. Plus, we probably wouldn't have been able to fly again because we would have ripped the nozzle right off the boom." 

The umpires agreed that the 50-point deduction was better than a large safety deduction for not getting disconnected. A safety violation would have taken half their points from the entire event. 

The KC-135 aircrew also included Maj. Tim Vituszynski, pilot, Capt. Brian Zoellner, co-pilot, and Staff Sgt. James Guldjord, boom operator. 

Sergeant Guldjord and Sergeant Calisi also performed in the KC-135 Loading competition. They had to safely load three pallets in a timely manner. The crew had eight pieces of hazardous cargo that they needed to deconflict to make the load safe. 

"We had several (simulated) duty passengers and Space-Available passengers," said Sergeant Guldjord. "There were certain hazardous cargos we could or could not take with Space-A or duty passengers." 

The team scored 636 out of 670 points. 

"The fact we had so much training will be extremely helpful for all who trained and supervised," said Sergeant Guldjord. "I think all wings were able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and that will help us get better as a command."
The maintenance team was graded on their preflight inspections, hourly post flight inspections and their ability to refuel the aircraft. The umpires watched for safety or technical data violations. 

"It's an overall assessment of the maintenance practice," said 1st Lt. David Antonelli. 

"The competition was very detail oriented. Our umpires were very meticulous. We competed against eight other KC-135 units. It was a very fierce competition." 

Throughout the week, the maintenance team worked 12 to 22 hour shifts. 

"We worked on the jet until it was done," said Lieutenant Antonelli. "The working environment was strenuous and we had very laborsome days. But I loved it. The cohesion of the team was great." 

Two security forces members competed in three competitions. 

"The combat weapons competition was designed to stress us," said 1st Lt. Christopher Castaneda, one security forces competitor. The second security forces competitor was Airman 1st Class Wade Waddle. 

The security forces team had to run to their designated areas and shoot a shotgun at five targets. They shot a pistol at 30 flip-up targets. They donned their gas masks, carried a 200-pound dummy to a safe spot, retrieved a 15-round magazine and shot at 10 steel targets. The last challenge was a target that had a 4-inch red balloon swinging from left to right in the form of an arc. 

Combat tactics competition was the second competition. 

"The combat tactics portion was just as we had expected it to be," said Lieutenant Castaneda. 

Lieutenant Castaneda and Airman Waddle were tasked to defend a C-130 in a foreign country devastated by a hurricane. 

"Through personal interactions and quick thinking we identified all threats, picked up intelligence, and secured the aircraft," said Lieutenant Castaneda. "Airman Waddle was a superstar. He quickly dispatched an enemy (in a Redman suit) by grabbing him by the throat and throwing him on the ground. He spotted the enemy trying to blow up the aircraft and we fired at him. I distracted the enemy by shooting rounds at him and moving away from the aircraft while Airman Waddle placed precise fire on him." 

Their final competition was the endurance course. 

"We trained hard and well," said Lieutenant Castaneda. "However, training more in gas masks would have helped us a lot. Our shooting was impeccable. Airman Waddle didn't miss a single shot. We competed in the events at a faster pace than we practiced. In the end we sprinted to a roaring crowd with Team McConnell screaming, 'We lead!' That was a big boost for us." 

Lieutenant Castaneda said the security forces team was well supported by Team McConnell, Col. David Kramer, 22nd ARW vice commander, and Lt. Gen. William Welser III, 18th Air Force commander. 

"Being supported by them epitomized what I love about McConnell," he added.
McConnell did not return home with a trophy, but everyone remained proud of their efforts. 

"The team is obviously disappointed they did not bring back any hardware, but I am very proud of them," said Colonel Kramer. "Also, I thank Team McConnell for their support because it's not just about these 17 people. It's a whole team effort."
Colonel Kramer visited the 22nd ARW competitors at McChord AFB, Wash., June 22, and was the pilot on their flight back to McConnell. 

"Rodeo is a great competition," said Colonel Kramer. "You get to test yourself and the team. I encourage anyone who has a chance to be on a Rodeo team in the future to go for it."