McConnell prepares for RODEO

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Honoring more than 80 years of in-flight refueling excellence, Team McConnell, the defending 2009 RODEO Best Air Refueling Team champions, will again participate in the air mobility competition, 2011 RODEO at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., July 24 to 29, 2011.

McConnell Airmen will compete with more than 100 teams from the active duty, Guard, Reserve and allied air forces. Competitors will be required to perform receiver air refueling, air-to-air refueling, maintenance, aerial port, aero-medical evacuations, security forces operations and financial management.

The competitions allow McConnell Airmen a chance to demonstrate their mission on the commands' highest stage, said Maj. Travis Edwards, 22nd Operations Support Squadron director of operations, and McConnell's RODEO Trail Boss.

"I believe [RODEO] affords our team the opportunity to represent the exceptional people of Team McConnell; the men and women who ensure the mission happens every day by providing superior warfighter support," Major Edwards said. "As we perform our mission our aim is excellence; the factor that facilitates excellence is teamwork."

McConnell's team will include members of the 22nd Operations Group and the 931st Air Refueling Group, who will combine to form one crew (Aircraft Commander, Pilot, Navigator and Boom Operator) to compete in air refueling competition as a tanker and receiver aircraft. The 22nd Maintenance Group and the 931st Maintenance Squadron will form a 12 member maintenance team to compete in the maintenance competition. The 22nd Security Forces Squadron will have a four-member team that will compete in the Security Forces Competition.

The Comptroller Squadron will field a three-person team to compete in the financial management competition. This is the first time McConnell's Comptroller Squadron will compete in RODEO.

The importance of McConnell's involvement in RODEO was reemphasized by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander:

"This competition is part of a long standing tradition in AMC," Col. Jamie Crowhurst said. "It helps us hone our skills and mission sets, but it's really about building excellence in our mission sets, while at the same time providing us a great opportunity to build comradely at the unit level and with our community partners."

These teams include McConnell's Total Force, which aids in a successful competition.

"The last year, we competed well and that generated a lot of enthusiasm," Colonel Crowhurst said. "We have an associate reserve partnership here with a wealth of experience in the maintenance and operations group community."

Along with the involvement of the teams and the community, Colonel Crowhurst also addressed the importance of having the support and enthusiasm of the entire McConnell community.

To help ensure the complete representation of Team McConnell's values and personnel, Major Edwards is asking all Airmen to participate in designing the logo, coin and tee-shirt for the 2011 RODEO. The logo will be used in all RODEO marketing.

"The winner, or winners, will receive a "Free Day Pass" from Colonel Crowhurst," said Major Edwards. "We want the logo to personify the RODEO theme of 'Fueling Freedom.'"

Major Edwards also stressed the importance of reflecting this theme, especially for the coin and tee-shirt.

"This theme was created not only by McConnell members, but also civic leaders from the local community, to reflect the idea that RODEO is not just about McConnell, but how what we do factors into the big picture.  Every time a [KC-135 Stratotanker] takes off, it's to help another aircraft."

The commander echoed Major Edward's themes for the logo competitions.

"We talk about what teamwork is to us and part of teamwork is getting excited about what your teammates are doing," Colonel Crowhurst said. "Just like supporting members who are deployed, we want everyone to be a contributor to RODEO. That's why we're offering Airmen a variety of ways to contribute."

The deadline for all RODEO submissions is March 1, 2011.

With the participation of McConnell's defending RODEO champions, the local community and Team McConnell, the commander foresees success in the competition.

"McConnell's presence will be known because we carry ourselves professionally, especially in the way we compete," said Colonel Crowhurst.

All submissions for the logo, coin and tee-shirt designs can be drawn by hand or designed by a computer program. The submissions should then be emailed as an attachment with the subject line "RODEO Logo Entry," to 22ARW.PA@mcconnell.af.mil.