Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. and Brig. Gen. Rick Martin participate in a pass and review July 24, 2011, during opening ceremonies for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Johns is the Air Mobility Command commander. Martin is the rodeo commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
A special tactics parachutist descends with the American flag July 24, 2011, during opening ceremonies for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
Airmen from Dover Air Force Base, Del., arrive at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., July 23, 2011, for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
Col. R. Wyn Elder, the 62nd Airlift Wing commander, speaks July 24, 2011, during the opening ceremony for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Frances Kriss)
Members of the Band of the Golden West fromTravis Air Force Base, Calif., play music July 24, 2011, during the opening ceremonies for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs
7/25/2011 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., (AFNS) -- Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 kicked off here July 24.
Airmen from around the world, including seven international teams, are participating in the biennial competition that focuses on mission readiness, featuring airdrops, aerial refueling and other events that showcase the skills of mobility crews.
This year's event promises to be the largest rodeo ever, said Col. R. Wyn Elder, the commander of the 62nd Air Mobility Wing, the host unit for the event.
In addition, teams from 20 nations have traveled here to observe the various challenges with the hopes of competing in the future.
During the opening ceremonies, the commander of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., inspected the units standing in formation participating in Rodeo 2011.
With him was Brig. Gen. Rick Martin, the Rodeo 2011 commander, who welcomed the teams.
"There is no greater assembly of mobility professionals," Martin said. "Let's celebrate camaraderie ... and let's do it all safely."
Riders on horseback presented the flags of each international team. As representatives of the host nation, parachutists from the 627th Special Tactics Squadron jumped from the back of a C-17 Globemaster III, displaying the American and POW/MIA flags.
This year marks the first time the event is being held since the advent of joint basing, as noted by the 62nd AMW commander, Col. R. Wyn Elder.
Elder thanked the garrison commander, Army Col. Thomas H. Brittain, for his support in putting on Rodeo 2011.
Brittain has overseen Joint Base Lewis-McChord since the two installations merged, and Elder called him, "Without question, the finest Airman in the United States Army."
"We want you all to focus on the competition at hand," Elder said to the crowd. "We're excited to open the doors to Joint Base Lewis-McChord to you and I look forward to the best rodeo competition ever.
"Let camaraderie define victory," the colonel added.
That spirit of competition has been a tradition of rodeos in the past.
For Adjutant Joris Retty, a C-130 Hercules loadmaster from the Belgium air force, this year marks his third rodeo. He was previously here in 2005 and 2009.
When one of his teammates fell ill, he said he jumped at the chance to come back and help coach the rest of his team.
"Nothing motivates me more than the spirit of competition," Retty said. "It's great to meet people from other nations and socialize. I actually went to loadmaster school at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, so it's nice to be back in America. I can't wait to get started."
The competition culminates at the end of the week with the crowning of the rodeo champion. The 62nd AMW from McChord won the last rodeo in 2009.
Comments
7/27/2011 7:59:45 PM ET WASTE OF MONEY. PERIOD.
Gunner, NAFB
7/27/2011 5:25:59 PM ET Saving our tax dollars MUST start at the top. If our CINC's spouse can fly to Utah for a politocal fund raiser costing millions in airlift, Secret service, cars, etc., then letting our Air Force have some good pride-building event like Rodeo, Turkey shoots, etc., should continue. BTW....The CMSAF sure does travel a lot...
Rex, Hill
7/27/2011 1:04:13 PM ET I would like to sign the petition as well. This seems to be quite wasteful in the reality of today's AF and really needs to be given a critical look.
JR, GA
7/27/2011 11:11:58 AM ET I will gladly articulate the concerns associated with this Rodeo AND Guardian Challenge with regards to our current budget constraints. We may not all agree in the end, yet our leaders will know our concerns.
Arctic Warrior, Colorado Springs
7/27/2011 9:15:03 AM ET Air Force Leaders...listen to your people below. This event is fun for a few and a great way to take care of your people but it's no consolation to the majors with 16-17 years of dedicated service you just SeRB'd. You could have paid all of their salary through retirement with the cost of this year's Rodeo. Stop taking care of yourselves and start making tough decisions. Tradition or not, Rodeo is one of many things that don't contribute to the mission and have to go bye-bye
Maj, SWA
7/27/2011 1:59:03 AM ET Bob, This is considered a competition uniform. Outside of the base normal AFI 36-2903 applies.
Lee, Ramstein
7/26/2011 2:42:56 PM ET WWAAAAA. Why complain about all the knit picky things? Some of you were just too lazy or have no pride in what you do. I bet you won't tell that to someone who has rank. Don't hate tradition.
Upset Port Dawg, JB MDL
7/26/2011 1:23:55 PM ET LoadShoe clerk comment: That makes me laugh. Also, if it was rodeo why weren't they all wearing cowboy hats? If you are gonna break an AFI, why not do it in style. Respectfully, Not a Shoe clerk
Michael, Vilseck
7/26/2011 12:57:43 PM ET Hey Load, why can't your multi-national airlift teams get together and see each other's TTPs while operating out of a stage at McGuire while participating in an Eagle Flag, or a stage in Little Rock and operate out of a JRTC? It's not because there is no beer tent or party atmosphere at those two TRAINING and LEARNING venues is it?
Tony, Keesler
7/26/2011 5:42:33 AM ET Bob, The big Air Force is more concerned with those of us wearing Air Assault badges we earned than those wearing those sloppy ball caps and preserving Air Force heritage is the erroneous excuse used.
Michael, Vilseck
7/26/2011 4:07:51 AM ET Yet another waste of AF Funds. Thank you AF leaders for making sure our money is well spent.
Waste of Money, Not there
7/26/2011 12:27:15 AM ET Shameful, just because it's an event apparently AFIs do not apply. BTW you want the Service to save money? Eliminate such waste...just identifying an efficiency.
Art Vandalay, AK
7/25/2011 11:36:19 PM ET Huge waste of funds for what amounts to a boring airshow that will only be seen by a relative handful of people. Showcase the skills of mobility crews - isn't this what mobility crews are doing every day either for training or downrange? How much per diem is being thrown away on that huge crowd of Airmen? How many hotel rooms are being paid for by Uncle Sam? Why do we have teams of maintainers working all the discrepancies off the Rodeo jet when every other aircraft on the ramp has dozens of pages of discrepancies that aren't being worked off? Why are we losing home-station flying training lines because the only flyable aircraft on the ramp is a Rodeo jet and can't be flown by anyone not on a Rodeo crew? Great example of wasteful spending.
That Guy..., Joint Base X
7/25/2011 11:23:40 PM ET What a shoe clerk comment. The rodeo is a historic competition, more importantly, it's a time for multi-national airlift teams to gather and see each other's TTP's. As far as Col Elder's non-standard headgear...IT'S A RODEO!
Load, doing the deed
7/25/2011 7:19:11 PM ET Why do I keep allowing myself to be fooled into thinking that the Air Force will cut wasteful spending? Oh but its a competition focusing on readiness. Then why are they staying in hotels and not tents? Why is there lots of alcohol? If they want a mobility focused event then let the planes and members go to Eagle Flag.
Tony, Keesler
7/25/2011 6:45:10 PM ET So much for new AFI covering permitted headgear...
