News

McChord Reservists win three times over at Rodeo 2009

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Who says Reservists aren't as organized, trained, and equipped as their active-duty counterparts? That's a Reservist's job...and that's what three Rodeo teams from the 446th Airlift Wing demonstrated at Air Mobility Command's Rodeo 2009 here, July 19-24.

The 446th AW Rodeo team won the Best Security Forces Team, Best C-17 Globemaster III Maintenance Team, and Best Fit to Fight team.

Winning also in Rodeo 1998, the 446th Security Forces Squadron was the first Reserve component team to win the Best Security Forces Team in the history of Airlift Rodeo, said Master Sgt. Lyndon DeBoma, 446th SFS operations and logistics manager.

Not only is the 446th SFS is the only Reserve team to have won the trophy, but according to Sergeant DeBoma, they are the only security forces team period to have won it twice.

Chief Master Sgt. Ed Stewart, 446th Security Forces Rodeo team leader, led fellow team members Tech. Sgt. Zach Casey, Staff Sgt. Jack Montez and Senior Airman Mike Chapman to victory.

The team earned second in the Combat Weapons Course, second in the Combat Tactics Course, and fourth in the Combat Endurance Course, said Sergeant DeBoma. Out of 29 teams, they won the Best Security Forces Team trophy.

According to Sergeants DeBoma and Casey, age equaling experience, along with hard training, was key to the team's success.

"I think the oldest member of (our closest competitor) is about 26," said Sergeant Casey. "Our youngest member is 28. We still performed well."

The 446th Rodeo Maintenance team can also be proud about their award, according to Senior Master Sgt. Mark Cherrix, 446th Rodeo Maintenance team chief.

"It's great that we won," said Sergeant Cherrix. "I couldn't be happier. It was a total team effort. Everybody pulled together so we could win."
Sergeant Cherrix agrees with Sergeant Casey about experience being a key to performance, along with teamwork.

"My crew chief, Tech. Sgt. Jeff Reinke, was the main guy making it happen," said Sergeant Cherrix. "This was his sixth Rodeo, so he knew what it was all about and what to expect. He also knew how to keep the team motivated. That's why I picked him, because I knew he could deliver. I think he's one of the best crew chiefs around and now he has the hardware to prove it."

Sergeant Cherrix led Master Sgts. Wayne Ruediner and David Eierman, Tech. Sgts. Jeff Reinke, Merle Brooks, Mike Chop, Jim McGreanor, Jerry Kallinen, and David Spurgeon, and Staff Sgts. Jason Eschette and John Todd. The alternates were: Master Sgts. Bryan Long, Ricky Singleton, and Bob Farrell, Tech. Sgts. Robert Ackerman, David Geallegos, Tom Teal, David Timney, and Ed McCrann, and Staff Sgt. David Wilde.

Sergeant Cherrix was also a member of the Best Fit to Fight team.

"I think we're breaking down a stereotype," said Sergeant Cherrix. "That's the important part. A bunch of old Reservists went out there and beat the active duty. We don't get mandatory physical training and the opportunity to run around the track all of the time like they do. Our weekends are filled with work and training, so we have to take the initiative to train on our own. By winning the trophy, we proved we can do that."