News>Pallet build up contest introduced at Air Mobility Rodeo 2011
Photos
Airmen secure a pallet during a pallet build-up competition July 25, 2011, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The event was part of Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, a biennial international competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews from around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi)
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 participants ensure their pallet meets the height requirement of a specific air frame July 25, 2011, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., during a pallet build-up competition. The event was part of Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, a biennial international competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews from around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi)
by Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs
7/27/2011 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASH. -- Twenty five Aerial port crews competed in the first Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 pallet build-up contest here July 26 to simulate the high-stress environment of a deployed location.
The cargo for the pallet built in the competition was made up of various pre-determined items by event organizers.
The umpires managing the competition trained each team to complete the event within the parameters they briefed, said Rene Emondt, the event coordinator from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron. The teams had to follow established safety procedures and finish the pallets as best and as fast as they could.
"Any time you have a time crunc,h it can be extremely stressful, whether competing against the clock or making sure troops are getting the supplies they need on time," said Staff Sgt. Mark Robertson, a participant representing the 62nd APS. "Building pallets is a tough job. It's like building a complex structure without instructions."
Tech. Sgt. Kory Aschenbrenner, the Air Mobility Command cargo policy manager, said building pallets is the "bread and butter of the aerial port structure."
"Every mobility air frame carries pallets, and it is our method of getting supplies to the warfighter," he said. "We do training like this event to ensure we are maxing out each pallet's utilization. It not only minimizes the amount of missions being flown, but it also saves on fuel and man hours, saving the Air Force millions of dollars each year."
Though international teams are not competing in this event, nearly all the teams witnessed and filmed the competition.
"We are looking forward for international crews to participate in the next rodeo's pallet build up," Aschenbrenner said. "This competition is here to stay, and I'm sure we will learn something from our foreign friends."
The Air Mobility Rodeo is a biennial international competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews from around the world.
For more information on the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, click here.
Comments
7/29/2011 10:33:18 AM ET OK - lets get this straight - the Rodeo competitions have unique uniform requirements. We had baseball style button up shirts in Ohio State colors one year with crimson ballcaps - I still wear my hat in civies on occasion and my son has one of the shirts he wears to school. During the actual competitions at the Rodeo sight teams are REQUIRED to wear their team apparel. When they leave the site they must be in compliance with uniform regs. Sad that all people can do is nit-pick over something like this. Especially when they don't know what they're talking about in the first place. The Rodeo competitions are great events for building some espirit de corps getting to know your counterparts in different organizations honing skills needed for the fight and showing what your organization can do. A good training program for the Rodeo builds fits perfectly in the uni't overall training program. I miss doing the SupplyFuels Rodeo...
John Bryan, Mansfield Lahm Aprt OH
7/29/2011 8:10:38 AM ET I am sure the shirts were approved by the higher ups before they started taking pictures and filming the event and then posting it every where. As for cutting programs like this by all means cut programs that help improve training and skills or any type of moral boosters.
Shelly, Texas
7/28/2011 3:25:53 PM ET NCO, reread the AFI...6.2.10. Organizational Cap. Will only be worn with the Airman battle uniform and battle dress uniforms by the following personnel or units: Red Horse and combat arms 6.5.2.1 The desert sand colored crewneck t-shirt without pockets is the only t-shirt authorized for wear with the ABU. Installation commanders may prescribe unit designation and cloth or silk screen emblem to be worn on left side of chest not to exceed 5 inches in diameter. Logos will not be visible. I don't see any exceptions for Rodeos.
SW, OK
7/28/2011 2:49:58 AM ET The reason why we have the rodeo is to gain some experience working with our NATO allies. As much money as the Air Force puts into these events the surrounding community gets the money back, and the AF maintains friendship with our allies. You ask anyone that's ever participated in the AMC rodeo and they'll tell you the same thing. As far as the black t-shirts go, those are just worn as a uniform for the event.
Kyle, Germany
7/27/2011 7:08:51 PM ET Its a special organization t-shirt. They're allowed. Read the AFI.
NCO, Utah
7/27/2011 5:15:51 PM ET I guess if you add Rodeo to your event, you can just throw Air Force Instruction 36-2903 out the window. Is it just me or are we not busy enough fighting on two fronts that we should be focusing on things other than who can build a pallet the fastest?
Some, Where
7/27/2011 3:25:30 PM ET IDEA Program: Cut events like this -- save AF money. What a waste.
