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Team Altus rides through day four of 2011 AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Rodeo Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  As teams near the last half of the 2011 Air Mobility Command Rodeo, Team Altus is still riding high in the saddle with strong hopes of leading the trail with the best scores possible July 27.

The 58th Airlift Squadron Rodeo Team from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., began the day by completing a low level flying exercise, an air refueling and an assault landing.

The next event was the Combat Weapons course where the 97th Security Forces Squadron 4-person Rodeo Team was evaluated on marksmanship, first aid, and biological and chemical environment survival skills.

After SF holstered their weapons, it was time for the 97th Maintenance Directorate KC-135 Maintenance Rodeo Team to show what they were made of in the Maintenance Skills Competition. The MSC tested the team's abilities to perform day-to-day maintenance duties in a series of challenges.

"We did pretty well," said Joshua Fraser, 97th MX KC-135 Rodeo Team member. "The umpires said we were one of the few teams that actually finished the course on time, so we are hoping we won it."

Minutes after the MSC ended, the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron Rodeo Team galloped through the engine running on-load and off-load competition. This timed event simulated expedient on-load and off-load of cargo in a wartime environment using a five member team.

"I think we did pretty well as a team," said Staff Sgt. Michael Ladrigan, 97th LRS Rodeo Team chief. "For the most part we executed exactly how we practiced, but again there were a few rules that we missed."

The LRS Rodeo Team did not finish as fast as they were hoping for.

"The clock was our biggest enemy today," Ladrigan said. "Back home in practice we could do it in 6.5 to 7 minutes, but you get out here and you tense up a little bit."

The next events of the day were a C-17 Globemaster III ground refueling completed by the 97th MX C-17 Rodeo Team and an air refueling completed by the 54th ARS Rodeo Team.

The 97th LRS Rodeo Team completed the final two events of the day. They first completed
the in transit visibility event which was performed by three members working together to manifest an outbound cargo load, an inbound cargo load and a passenger load using the Global Air Transportation Execution System. The final event was the Joint Inspection, which consists of two team members who performed an inspection of a 463L cargo pallet, vehicle and trailer, and an ISU 90 container to ensure they are properly prepared for shipment.

As the day comes to an end, Altus' Rodeo Teams are preparing for tomorrows events which include: An LRS challenge course, KC-135 MX pre-flight inspection, SF combat endurance course, C-17 and KC-135 aerial operations.

Editor's note: This is the fifth part of an eight part series.