Air Mobility RODEO 2009

A C-130 Hercules from the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard at St. Joseph taxis on the ramp at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., after completing a competition mission for Air Mobility RODEO 2009. More than 100 teams are participating in RODEO competition, including teams from seven foreign countries. RODEO is the U.S. Air Force's and AMC's premier air mobility competition. It's an international combat skills and flying operations competition designed to develop and improve techniques, procedures and interoperability with international partners to optimize mobility partnerships and enhance mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

Air Mobility RODEO 2009

RODEO 2009: Total Force impact evident at RODEO 2009

Published July 20, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Erika Wonn
RODEO 2009 Public Affairs

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The Air Force's total force concept is clearly on display at Air Mobility RODEO 2009 here.

Not only are lessons learned from interaction with international counterparts and the United States Marine Corps unit participating in the competition, but also from the coordinating components within the Air Force -- Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

As a Total Force, the Air Force boasts more than 40 air mobility units all over the world. Of these units, the ANG and Air Force Reserve account for 59 percent of the AMC's airlift capabilities and 54 percent of AMC's air refueling capabilities. Although other Guard and Reserve units are competing on the same team as their base's active duty counterparts, three Guard and two Reserve units are participating separately in this year's RODEO competition.

Of the three ANG units participating, two are airlift units, and one is an air refueling unit, the 121st Air Refueling Wing from the Ohio Air National Guard.

Capt. Nick Hupp, the 121st ARW aircraft commander, says that the experiences shared here at RODEO are beneficial for all the Air Force components involved. "Every component brings something to the table," he said. "When they talk about total force, it definitely describes today's Air Force accurately."

Lt. Col. Garin Tentschert, team chief for the 446th AW, a Reserve unit here at McChord AFB, agrees. "We have active duty and reserve here," he said. "With all of the flying that we do, we borrow ideas and resources from each other every day."

The two Reserve units are airlift wings. One is from Youngstown, Ohio, and the other from McChord AFB.

RODEO seeks to help adapt strategies and tactics to meet both current and future war fighting requirements. By using examples from other teams at the competition, active duty, Guard and Reserve can bring home valuable tools of the trade.

"This is a great opportunity to clear the air about misinformation between units and aircraft types," Colonel Tentschert. "This is especially true with the tanker units since we work with them so often, but never get to talk outside of (operational missions)."

Captain Hupp, who has attended two previous RODEOs, agrees that the competiton helps ease the harshness of a sometimes very competitive occupation.

"There's a rivalry between the inner service components just like the rivalry between the different (military) services," said Captain Hupp. "We all want to be the best, but when push comes to shove, we're all still fighting for the same team."