MacDill Rodeo team 2009 readies to ride

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tania Reid
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill AFB, Fla --  The Air Mobility Command Rodeo team competition is just under a month away and Team MacDill's preparation is in full swing. With the "best of the best" aircrew, maintenance and security forces teams chosen the trophy is within reach for the competition held at McChord AFB, Wash. from July 19-24. 

Each team member selected has never competed in the event but hopes to repeat the victory MacDill had in both 2000 and 2005. 

"This will be the first rodeo that I, along with my team members, have participated in," said Capt. Bryson Rintala, 6th Maintenance Group, maintenance team officer in charge. "Even though we have no experience on the team, there were many current 6 AMXS members that have competed in the past rodeo competitions." 

The teams trained in their respective fields' everyday beginning May 2 and will continue until July 18 the day before they leave for the competition. 

Maj. Christopher Bragdon, the rodeo team leader, said "Aircrews are preparing in air refueling and cargo loading. Maintainers are practicing for pre-flight inspections, basic post flight inspections, fuel servicing and daily operations." 

"The security forces team will practice for the combat tactics course, combat weapons course, combat endurance course and the combat marksman course," he added. 

The team's strategies for this year were to choose the best representatives of each field. They were either hand selected by their supervisors or competed to be chosen. 

"Our aircrew team began to fly exclusively on the rodeo aircraft in late May and the security forces team traveled to obstacles courses at other bases to train," said Major Bragdon. 

At the obstacle course, the security force members were put to the test. They were challenged in multiple physical feats such as running with their gas mask on in their Battle Dress Uniforms, climbing up steep walls and more, said Master Sgt. Fitzroy Howe, 6th Security Forces team leader. 

While the teams have gained all the training they require to participate, there is still some fine tuning to add to the team's work effort. 

"It is known that the best way to score well during the competition is for the team members to work hard, maintain a positive attitude and stay focused on completing the technical orders from beginning to end without skipping or alternating steps," said Captain Rintala. 

Over the next few weeks, our team will continue to train hard and needs Team MacDill's support. To raise funds for their shirts, hats and other items, they will be helping to bag items for customers at the base commissary. The team will be located at register 13, July 2 from 12 until 7 p.m.

 The rodeo is a base-wide effort .Everyone can contribute to the success of the aircrew, maintainers and security forces members participating this year. So come out and support the rodeo team in their efforts to bring home the trophy.