An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

International Airdrop Symposium closes, but many participants stay on for Rodeo 2011

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The three-day International Airdrop Symposium wrapped up here July 21 but many of the international attendees from 26 nations will stay on to observe or participate in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011.

According to Maj. Patrick Linson, symposium chairperson from St. Joseph, Mo., where he serves as a combat tactics instructor in the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, or AATTC, the symposium was important "to build international partnerships in the airdrop and airlift communities."

The goal of the organizers, Linson said, was to have participating international partners share their ideas and techniques.

"Sharing these techniques is naturally beneficial to all involved," Linson added.

During the symposium, participants heard briefings on the future of airdrop, how airdrops made a difference in Haiti operations in 2010, as well as more about the U.S. Army's role in the U.S. military's airdrop mission. International participants, to include partners from Canada, Columbia, Japan and Australia, also shared their techniques on airdrops.

With Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 taking place from July 24 to 29, the learning and sharing will continue for those participants, officials said. Rodeo, sponsored by the Air Mobility Command, is the Mobility Air Force's readiness competition. This competition focuses on improving worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities.

"In the spirit of cooperation, this effort will help with airdrop improvements for years to come," Linson said of the symposium.

With Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, more than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the Air Force, and Air Force Reserve, as well as allied nations, are participating. That means more people and experiences to learn from on airlift and airdrop.

According to the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 fact sheet an important long-term benefit of Rodeo is increased cooperation between air mobility forces from several nations. "Collectively, the ultimate goal of the competition is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance air mobility operations. Spirited competition furthers that aim, while strengthening the mutual goals and bonds of friendship developed between competing teams," the fact sheet states.