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Pacific aerial porters prepare at Hickam for AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Working out twice a day and running in a gas mask may sound like part of the training only a Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape team or pararescue crew would do, but eight air transportation specialists from around the Pacific are doing it together at Hickam AFB ... not because their everyday jobs require it. 

This elite group of Airmen was hand-picked from more than 500 other aerial porters in the Pacific to compete in the 2009 Air Mobility Rodeo competition July 19 to 25 at McChord AFB, Wash. More than 100 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, as well as allied nations, are expected to participate, according to Air Mobility Command. 

"Working in a joint environment will be great because we will get to see different skill sets from different bases," said Master Sgt. Maurice Wijnen-Riems, the Pacific's en route bases team chief from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. 

The biennial, international competition features events that showcase each team's readiness and ability to perform critical wartime skills including airdrop and air refueling, according to Capt. Mark Klohr, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group director of operations. Participants will range from security forces to aerial port, maintenance, and aeromedical evacuation personnel. 

"We have a very experienced team, both in terms of the RODEO and performing our wartime tasks on a daily basis," said Col. Rich McClain, 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing commander here. "This is what we do every day and we do it well. I have no doubt this team will apply the same sound principles they use every day to succeed and represent us well at the RODEO." 

The 515th AMOW will compete against 22 other aerial port teams. Events include C-130 engine running on and off load, joint inspection with hazmat, in-transit visibility, 60,000-ton driving course, and a 10,000-ton forklift driving course. 

Because some of the events involve equipment that's not available at Hickam AFB, they've set up training on C-130s at Barber's Point as well as with the South Korean team, Sergeant Wijnen-Riems said. 

"It's been great seeing the team in action and doing what we have trained to do," said Tech. Sgt. Dwayne Johnson, 735th Air Mobility Squadron training manager. "I'm looking forward to meeting the different foreign militaries and getting to see how they do things in contrast to how we do things. It's a life-broadening experience." 

The training and rodeo also give them a chance to communicate with a diverse range of people of various nationalities and career fields, he said. 

"It's more than just seeing how they operate in different aircraft," Sergeant Johnson said. "Getting familiar with their customs and culture is a huge benefit as well, and really prepares us for the times we may deploy and work with multinational forces." 

In addition to the events involving aircraft, they'll all run a four-mile combat endurance course in full uniform while wearing their battle gear. 

"We've been working out twice a day," said Staff Sgt. Cliff Robertson, 735th AMS knowledge operations management. "I hear part of the confidence course is pushing a humvee and running in a gas mask, so we're really pushing it hard to make sure we're ready." 

Accompanying the team chief and Hickam sergeants are Senior Airman Baltazar Valdez, 731st Air Mobility Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea; Senior Airman Andrew Cramer and Staff Sgt. Russell Mann, 732th Air Mobility Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Staff Sgt. Travis Wilt, 733rd Air Mobility Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Barboza, 734th Air Mobility Squadron, Andersen Air Base, Guam. 

Sergeant Robertson said it's been great getting to know the guys from other bases during the last two weeks, and he's confident they will be able to win the best overall aerial port team award. 

"We're not dreading any aspect of it," Sergeant Johnson said. "We're definitely prepared. We were picked because of our ability to do the job, and we're fit to do what we've trained to do." 

The Hickam Air Mobility Rodeo Team has been chosen, and the story announcing their debut ran in the June 5 edition of the Kukini and on the base Web site, www2.hickam.af.mil. There will be ongoing coverage of the Rodeo and Hickam's teams.