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APS trains hard to earn trophy

  • Published
  • By Capt. Suzanne Ovel
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Editor's note: This is the second in a four part series of articles highlighting McChord's Rodeo 2007 competitors.

It's been less than 18 months since the bellows of training instructors stopped ringing in his ears, yet Airman 1st Class Shawn Brown already has one trip to Iraq behind him.

His experience mirrors that of his fellow members of the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron Rodeo team -- all of the Airmen have a deployment, or two or more, under their belts.

In the high-tempo field of aerial port, this deployment rate is typical, said 1st Lt. Miguel Colón, 62nd APS. It's this real-life experience that the team captain is banking on to counter the lack of prior Rodeo experience in this year's team.

The crew of eight Airmen, which will be whittled down to five primary competitors in the next few weeks, was hand-selected by 62nd APS leadership.

"They're pretty well known around the squadron for being the top non-commissioned officers and Airmen," said Lieutenant Colón, who said the squadron had no official tryouts for their Rodeo team. "We already knew they were good; that's why they were hand-selected."

Like all Rodeo competitions, the aerial port events focus on both career skills and physical ability.

The 62nd APS team is training to compete in an engine running off-load, a joint-inspection cargo load, and in-transit visibility (testing the ability to create passenger and cargo manifests), along with driving competitions with a 10K forklift and a 25K Halvorsen loader.

It's the challenge course, though, that is the core of much of the team's preparation.

Just how long they might be expected to run while carrying water-laden igloos or manually pushing a Humvee is the unknown for which the team must train.

The team starts and ends its days with physical training, running distances up to seven miles, weight lifting, interval training and going to spin class. 

For the challenge course, the team must train to carry litters, quickly assemble M16 rifles and run while donning chemical warfare gear.

Senior Airman Michael Nipper, 62nd APS, said running while wearing a gas mask is his biggest challenge.

"It's focused breathing," said teammate Tech. Sergeant Scott Winchell, 62nd APS, elaborating on Airman Nipper's comments.

Sergeant Winchell said their training also includes lugging 50 to 75-pound four-by-four logs made of composite plastic, or dunnage, as part of a team carry.

The 62nd APS Rodeo team is rounded out by members Staff Sgt. Justin Hartman, Staff Sgt. George Parker, Senior Airman Jeffrey Winters and Airman 1st Class Nathan Williams.

All of their team's training is done with one focused goal in mind: To snare a Rodeo trophy for their squadron.

"We won the last two Rodeos with the best aerial port team, and we're hoping to win this time around," said Lieutenant Colón.

He quickly changed his prediction: "We will win this time around."