AMC, mobility air force teams gearing up for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Published June 20, 2011 By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 2011 edition of Air Mobility Rodeo, sponsored by the Air Mobility Command, is set to take place July 24 to 29 at McChord Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Rodeo is a readiness competition that "focuses on improving our worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities," AMC officials said. More than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the Air Force, and Air Force Reserve, as well as allied nations, are expected to participate. Rodeo began in October 1956, history shows. At that time, 13 troop carrier wings of the Continental Air Command, the Air Force Reserve Command's predecessor, sent crews to participate in a "Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo" at Bakalar Air Force Base, Ind. The first airdrop competition for units of the active-duty force occurred in April 1962, when the Military Air Transport Service held a MATS-wide Rodeo at Scott AFB, Ill. The 1962 Rodeo competition was a combat skills competition designed to develop and improve techniques and procedures while enhancing air mobility operations, and promoting esprit de corps. In 1979, Rodeo was expanded to include our international air mobility partners. "Rodeo tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of special tactics, security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation, and maintenance team members," the competition fact sheet states. "It also provides valuable joint and combined training for all participants." The last Rodeo competition took place in July 2009 at McChord. For more information, see the Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 fact sheet at http://www.amc.af.mil/amc/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=18488.