News

Security Forces Rodeo team fired up about Combat Weapons event

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  You get what you pay for. And the 446th Airlift Wing Rodeo Security Forces team has invested a lot into preparing for the Combat Weapons Course July 20 at Rodeo 2009, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.

The Combat Weapons Course at Fort Lewis, Wash., was the first of four events the Rodeo Security Forces team will compete in for Rodeo 2009, which runs from July 19-24.

The course evaluates a four-person team on marksmanship, first aid, and biological and chemical environment skills.

"Our guys did well from what I saw and I had a very good view," said Master Sgt. Lyndon Deboma, 446th Security Forces Squadron operations and logistics manager. "These guys are our shooters, so I don't have any doubts on how well they scored. I got to see it first hand and they looked great."

The team won't know their score until the end of the week, but it doesn't shake their confidence.

"We worked well as a team and shot well," said Senior Airman Mike Chapman, Rodeo Security Forces team member. "We communicated really well with each other and I believe that was the key to our success."

Training was another key to the team's success, according to Chief Master Sgt. Ed Stewart, Rodeo Security Forces team chief.

"We met all of our objectives on the range today," said Chief Stewart. "We've done a lot of training in preparation of the weapons course today and it showed."

"The umpires said it would be a tough course and it was," said Tech. Sgt. Zachary Casey, Rodeo Security Forces team member. "But we gave a solid performance and we're satisfied with it. Our intense training allowed us to do that."

"We went by our mantra, 'aim small, miss small,' while we were out there," said Chief Stewart. "It paid off."

The team has been performing well since the competition started July 19, according to Chief Stewart.

"These guys have been doing well since Fit to Fight," said Chief Stewart. "Staff Sgt. Jack Montez, another Rodeo Security Forces team member, maxed out his pushups and sit-ups and ran a personal best 8 minute, 51 second mile and a half. From there, the team has been real solid."

"We performed well at the range and that gives us more confidence going into the tactics course," said Sergeant Casey.

The team's next event is the Combat Tactics Course July 21 at 10:30 a.m., in the South 40, South Approach at Fort Lewis.