Air Mobility Command RODEO 2009

Master Sgt. Doug Tye, Headquarters Air Mobility Command command air evacuation technician evaluator from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., clarifies some issues July 19, 2009, he had about umpiring prior to the Air Mobility RODEO 2009 aeromedical evacuation competition at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard)

Air Mobility Command RODEO 2009

Maj. Melissa Smith, Headquarters Air Mobility Command command flight nurse from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., instructs Air Mobility RODEO 2009 aeromedical evacuation umpires July 19, 2009, of the standards that will be equally applied to every AE team at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard)

RODEO 2009: Umpires: So much to evaluate, so little time

Published July 19, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
RODEO 2009 Public Affairs

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- "Integrity First" is an Air Force core value that every Airman knows. No group will show it more at Air Mobility Command's RODEO 2009 than the umpires.

Umpires were sent by each participating base and are the subject matter experts for their events. Headquarters AMC, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., also sent umpires.

"I think I was chosen to be an umpire because me and my squadron enforce and set the policies and procedures that are developed by the command," said Senior Master Sgt. Mike Morris, 54th Air Refueling Wing superintendent, Altus AFB, Okla.

Sergeant Morris, a KC-135 umpire, works at the KC-135 schoolhouse.

"I've also been a RODEO participant and coached a RODEO team," he said. "It is more fun to participate, but the guys who do that job everyday should get to participate."

Maj. Melissa Smith, HQ AMC command flight nurse at Scott AFB, is the lead umpire for the aeromedical evacuation competitions. She held a briefing with the AE umpires to standardize what they are looking for.

"This is what (the teams) do every day," she said. "They have practiced really hard and their wing has put them up as the best so we want them to succeed, but we have to assess everyone accurately."

Major Smith also explained there are a lot of variables but there is only one standard. One variable is Turkey, the only international team. The Turkish air force primarily uses an aircraft called CASA, but for the competition they will have to use a C-130 like everyone else.

"We got to train with the Turkish team," said Major Smith. "Their planes were smaller, but very nice. I enjoyed learning with them"

Another factor, Major Smith explained, is active-duty flight nurses can't be flight nurses their entire career, Reserve flight nurses can. So, that changes the amount of experience on the teams.

Being an umpire is another way to get more people involved with RODEO. While they are not participants, umpires still interact and are able to learn lessons.

"I enjoy networking and sharing information with different squadrons, wings and international units," said Major Smith. "I am learning so much."

Umpires are teamed with another umpire and don't evaluate their own teams.