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Loading up for Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "On your marks, get ready, set ... GO!"

With that, four Travis Airmen took off, sprinting toward a C-5 Galaxy with its engines running.

The four Airmen, members of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron's Rodeo Team, were practicing a C-5 engine running on/offload, where they must load and unload a C-5 and a C-17 in the fastest time possible with no safety violations.

The engine running on/off load is one of the six events the 60th APS team will compete in during the 2007 Air Mobility Command's Expeditionary Rodeo, a Mobility Air Force's readiness competition that tests competitor's abilities through all aspects of their career field.

"Along with the engine running on/off load event, we will also compete in the Intransit Visibility, Joint Inspection, Forklift Driving and K-Loader events," said Tech. Sgt. Ken Quilici, 60th APS Rodeo Team leader.

In addition, the team will also compete in the Aerial Port Challenge, where all team members must go through a 14-stage, four-mile obstacle course set to test physical abilities, handling fatigue, and self-aid and buddy care.

"The team does physical fitness training nine times a week and, in total, have 281 hours training for the all events," Sergeant Quilici said.

For team members, like Airman 1st Class Daniel Levindofske, the additional work has boosted his confidence in his team's ability to win.

"I feel very confident in our team as a whole," he said. "We really do have the best of the best on board. Each person on the team has individual strengths, so as a team we are very well-rounded. The main factor in us winning is the fact that none of us will accept a loss, from ourselves or from each other."

"I believe that with the level of training we are undergoing as well as the extensive job experience we have on this team, we will take any event we compete in," said Staff Sgt. Cory Morris.

During the 2005 competition, Team Travis took home 13 out of 22 trophies at the competition, but lost the Commander's Air Mobility Wing best overall award to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

The 60th APS team is confident that they, along with the entire Team Travis Rodeo team, will do their best not to let this happen again.

"Our chances are very good because we have a very good team. I think Team Travis will set the pace and be the team to beat," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Chilton. "I'm looking forward to competing and winning against the best AMC has to offer."

"I think we stand a good chance of bringing the Commander's Air Mobility Wing best overall award home," Sergeant Quilici said. "Why? Because we are the best. I think they should start putting our name on the plaques now and save themselves some time."

The 2007 AMC Rodeo will be held July 22 to 28 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.