- Home
- Washington File
- Nigeria Participates in U.S Airlift Competition
Nigeria Participates in U.S Airlift Competition
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published July 25th, 2011
- Washington File
- Unrated
Thirty-one international mobility teams including Nigeria participate in an mobility competition hosted by the United States Air Force’s Air Mobility Command at McChord Field, Washington last week.
The event, called Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, is the Air Force’s Mobility Air Force (MAF) readiness competition. It focused on improving worldwide air mobility forces’ professional core abilities. More than 150 teams and 3,000 people, both U.S. and foreigners participated.
The last RODEO competition took place in July 2009 at McChord. While the operations tempo remains high, Brig. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, AMC Directorate of Operations and RODEO 2011 commander says it’s important that AMC continue this key event.
“RODEO showcases AMC’s best of the best and allows us to train and learn through spirited competition,” said Martin. “Not only does this world-class competition train mobility forces for the fight, it provides a forum for Airmen and our international partners to share the best of tactics and techniques. Improvement and cooperation are essential in our continued participation in global contingency operations.”
“We’re very excited to host our international partners for these two important conferences,” Martin said. “Sharing knowledge and generating new ideas will most certainly improve our partnerships and enhance our world-wide mobility capabilities.”
Other International partners that participated in Air Mobility RODEO 2011 are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, India, Israel, Japan and Jordon.
Others are Lebanon, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
RODEO competitions are designed as military training events and are not open to the public. Media wishing to cover RODEO should contact AMC Public Affairs.
The first rodeo was held in 1956 to showcase the reliability and capability of cargo planes. The bi-annual competition has grown to encompass all aspects of Air Mobility Command, including aerial port, aeromedical evacuation, maintenance, security forces, and for the first time, financial management.
”We’ve been practicing self-aid and buddy care, running through financial scenarios and even some M-16 and M-9 training,” said Tech. Sgt. Kerry Robinson, the financial management team chief. “Our team is more than ready.”
Each team prepares for different rodeo competitions. The financial management team will compete in performance-based scenarios, small arms and a fitness course. The aerial port team will compete in engine running on and offload, challenge course, 10-pound-capable forklift driving and pallet build-up competitions. The aircrew team will compete in the airdrop, air refueling and joint airdrop inspection events.
“To prepare for rodeo, we did some off-station training last weekend, which included various low-level flying drills and air drops,” said Maj. Scott Huffstetler, the aircrew team chief. “My team is prepared, and we’re looking forward to the competition.”
The maintenance team will be competing in daily pre- and post-flight observations and refueling events. The security forces team will be competing in combat tactics, combat weapons and combat endurance events.
“This team represents you and what this installation does every single day,” Colonel Elder said. “Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done while preparing for this event.”
In 2009, the wing rodeo team here was named the best post-flight team, best aerial port challenge course team, best C-17 Globemaster III team, best airdrop team and the best air mobility wing.
The event, called Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, is the Air Force’s Mobility Air Force (MAF) readiness competition. It focused on improving worldwide air mobility forces’ professional core abilities. More than 150 teams and 3,000 people, both U.S. and foreigners participated.
The last RODEO competition took place in July 2009 at McChord. While the operations tempo remains high, Brig. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, AMC Directorate of Operations and RODEO 2011 commander says it’s important that AMC continue this key event.
“RODEO showcases AMC’s best of the best and allows us to train and learn through spirited competition,” said Martin. “Not only does this world-class competition train mobility forces for the fight, it provides a forum for Airmen and our international partners to share the best of tactics and techniques. Improvement and cooperation are essential in our continued participation in global contingency operations.”
“We’re very excited to host our international partners for these two important conferences,” Martin said. “Sharing knowledge and generating new ideas will most certainly improve our partnerships and enhance our world-wide mobility capabilities.”
Other International partners that participated in Air Mobility RODEO 2011 are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, India, Israel, Japan and Jordon.
Others are Lebanon, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.
RODEO competitions are designed as military training events and are not open to the public. Media wishing to cover RODEO should contact AMC Public Affairs.
The first rodeo was held in 1956 to showcase the reliability and capability of cargo planes. The bi-annual competition has grown to encompass all aspects of Air Mobility Command, including aerial port, aeromedical evacuation, maintenance, security forces, and for the first time, financial management.
”We’ve been practicing self-aid and buddy care, running through financial scenarios and even some M-16 and M-9 training,” said Tech. Sgt. Kerry Robinson, the financial management team chief. “Our team is more than ready.”
Each team prepares for different rodeo competitions. The financial management team will compete in performance-based scenarios, small arms and a fitness course. The aerial port team will compete in engine running on and offload, challenge course, 10-pound-capable forklift driving and pallet build-up competitions. The aircrew team will compete in the airdrop, air refueling and joint airdrop inspection events.
“To prepare for rodeo, we did some off-station training last weekend, which included various low-level flying drills and air drops,” said Maj. Scott Huffstetler, the aircrew team chief. “My team is prepared, and we’re looking forward to the competition.”
The maintenance team will be competing in daily pre- and post-flight observations and refueling events. The security forces team will be competing in combat tactics, combat weapons and combat endurance events.
“This team represents you and what this installation does every single day,” Colonel Elder said. “Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done while preparing for this event.”
In 2009, the wing rodeo team here was named the best post-flight team, best aerial port challenge course team, best C-17 Globemaster III team, best airdrop team and the best air mobility wing.
