CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
More than 30 Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing will depart July 17 for McChord AFB, Wash., to participate in Rodeo 2009, Air Mobility Command's premier mobility competition.
Rodeo 2009 is scheduled to take place July 19 through 24.
The international competition focuses on readiness and improving worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities. It features airdrops, aerial refueling, cargo delivery operations and other events, which will showcase the unique and wide-ranging capabilities of military security forces, aerial port, maintenance and aeromedical evacuation personnel.
Charleston's Rodeo Team members have been preparing for this competition for several months and will compete alongside more than 100 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, as well as allied nations, that are expected to participate.
"I am proud of the hard work, time and commitment the members of Team Charleston's Rodeo Team have put into preparing for this year's competition," said Col. John Wood, 437 AW commander.
The Rodeo Team chief is Maj. Jesse Baker, assistant director of operations for the 17th Airlift Squadron. His responsibilities are to organize the five sub-teams -- aircrew, aerial port, security forces, maintenance and fit to fight -- into one competitive team.
"I consider this a tremendous honor to lead a team who will represent Charleston in this international competition," said Major Baker. "As a first time attendee, I look forward to the overall camaraderie, the collection of airlift professionals from around the world and the chance to compete and learn from each other."
The Aircrew Team leader and aircraft commander is Capt. Robert Lowe, 15th Airlift Squadron. Team members are: pilots, Capt. Joseph Beal, 16th Airlift Squadron, and Capt. Jonathan Magill, 14th Airlift Squadron; loadmaster, Tech. Sgt. Harold Bordeaux, 17 AS; joint airdrop inspectors, Staff Sgt. Spencer Stacy and Senior Airman Mitchell Thompson, 437th Operations Support Squadron; and team morale activities coordinator, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Watson, 15 AS.
The Aircrew Team will compete in the following flying events: airdrop, short field landing and air refueling. Non-flying events will include joint airdrop inspection and engines running offload.
The Maintenance Team leader is Master Sgt. Ricky Clark, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Team members are Tech. Sgts. Richard Pate and Paul Eaton, Staff Sgts. Jessy Martin, Brian Parmerter, Hector Schunior, Nicholas White and John Paull, Senior Airmen Dennis Adams, Joshua Ramalia and Daniel Jones, 437 AMXS; and Staff Sgt. Veronica Bankey, 437th Maintenance Squadron.
The maintenance competition goal is to evaluate maintainers' ability to keep command aircraft ready to meet operational commitments. They will be evaluated in the following areas: preflight, pre-flight inspection and ground refueling operations.
The Security Forces Team leader is Staff Sgt. Jeremy Graves. Team members are Staff Sgts. Antwan Sibley, Senior Airman John Diaz-Colon and Airman 1st Class James Lipscomb, all from the 437th Security Forces Squadron.
Security forces members are responsible for conducting the defense of both built-up and austere air bases. To test their readiness, four-member teams will compete in three events: combat tactics, combat endurance course and combat weapons.
The Aerial Port Team leader is Tech. Sgt. Don Herrod. Primary team members are Staff Sgt. Daniel Ackerman, Senior Airmen Kenny Maeng, Robert Kellen, Jason Goldman and Luther Franklin, 437th Aerial Port Squadron. Senior Airman James Tench is the alternate.
Aerial port teams ensure equipment and supplies are loaded safely and quickly for airdrop or transport. The team will compete in the following areas: joint inspection, engines running on and offload, aerial port challenge course, in-transit visibility and the 10K forklift driving course.
Major Baker also serves as the Fit-to-Fight Team leader. Other team members, who were chosen by their respective sub-teams, are Captain Lowe, Sergeant Martin and Airmen Kellen and Lipscomb. Their competition events will include a 1.5 mile run, sit-ups and push-ups.
Sean Tracey, director of Airport Operations and 437th Operations Group honorary commander, and Cheryl Clark, general manager of Holiday Inn Express, chairperson of the Chamber's Military Relations Committee and 437th Force Support Squadron honorary commander are two local civic leaders who are also members of the Rodeo Team. They will travel with the team on July 17 and will serve as observers, provide advice and encouragement, attend competitions and cheer the team on as they compete.
The last biennial competition took place in July 2007, with Charleston's combined teams from both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings bringing home several trophies.
Colonel Wood expressed his confidence in this year's team and said, "I am looking forward to cheering them on as they showcase their capabilities, competing against the best of the best."
Col. Donald Shaffer, 437 AW vice commander, will travel with the team on July 17. Colonel Wood will join them on July 22.
The Rodeo send-off ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m., July 17, in Nose Dock 1, Building 519.