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RODEO 2009: Getting behind the 'process'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
  • RODEO 2009 Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  With more than 2,500 people needing badges, billeting and workspace for Air Mobility Command's RODEO 2009, someone needs to be in place to guide and provide direction. This daunting, but "rewarding" duty is taken on at RODEO's in-processing line.

The in-processing line, which has a staff of 28 who've been working from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. since July 8, is the first stop for all RODEO personnel arriving here.

The first booth is PERSCO - short for "personnel support for contingency operations."

"The most important part of PERSCO is 100 percent accountability," explained Master Sgt. Dave Swory, 62nd Force Support Squadron personnel manager. "It's what we do. We gain accountability of all RODEO personnel so if anyone needed to know something or if something were to happen, we could provide information immediately."

The personnelists also input each team roster onto the RODEO Web site for Air Mobility Command's staff to use.

After everyone is accounted for, they need a place to sleep, which is where lodging comes in. For RODEO McChord's lodging staff from the 62nd FSS filled their maximum capacity on base. However, they stepped up and coordinated contracts with more than 30 different hotels off base to accommodate all RODEO personnel. That effort yielded more than 3,000 rooms in the greater-Tacoma area for use.

"We have to balance where everyone is while making sure their accommodations meet the same standards they would have received at McChord," said 1st. Lt. Melissa Garcia, 62nd FSS lodging officer in charge.

The third stop in the line is where a "landing fee" of $20 per person is collected.

"The fee helps offset the cost at Ranier Ranch events," said Kelly Wetzel, 62nd FSS marketing director. "We have bands scheduled and we feed the RODEO participants dinner for several nights."

Next in line is the information booth where RODEO welcome books and all other social events can be found.

"I am the point of contact for everyone," said Staff Sgt. David Aebi, 446th Air Maintenance Squadron C-17 hydraulic specialist. "People can call me and ask anything and I coordinate the information in a timely manner, which is hard because everything changes.

"I've found, though, that if you are polite and positive, people are patient, even if they are hot and tired," he said.

Further down the line, RODEO personnel can collect their badges and vehicle passes which help them gain access to their appropriate destinations.
The last major stop is transportation. Transportation has multiple roles as they bring flightline passengers from their aircraft to Hangar 3 to in process, then from Hangar 3 to the 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron to collect their vehicles, and also to transport RODEO participants around the base.

"We have contracted more than 750 vehicles from three rental car agencies and leased 10 44-passenger buses from the school district for RODEO," said Master Sgt. Ron Cargill, 62nd LRS transportation.

Despite the long hours each of the people working the booths said they've enjoyed meeting people from different agencies and bases and from around the world.

"I like the social aspect," said Sergeant Aebi. "I feel like I have gone around the world while staying in one place."