News

Reserve home team ready for Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  About 45 Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing here, will be competing in Rodeo 2009, July 19-24, here. 

The 446th Airlift Wing team will make up part of the 2,500 participants and 100 teams from Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard, and teams from the Marine Corps, and international air forces. 

This year's Reserve home team is led by Lt. Col. Garin Tentschert, 97th Airlift Squadron. He will oversee the Aircrew, Aeromedical, Maintenance, Aerial Port, and Security Forces teams. 

He has high hopes for the wing's chances in the competition. 

"I am very proud of our team," said Colonel Tentschert. "They have done a phenomenal job and have been working extremely hard in preparation for Rodeo." 

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Cherrix, 446th Maintenance Rodeo team chief doesn't have any worries about how the maintenance team will perform. 

"We plan on winning everything," said Sergeant Cherrix. "The 446th AW has participated in a lot of Rodeos. In Rodeo 2007, we won the Best Pre-Flight Team Award; we know how to win. We've put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into preparing for this year's Rodeo. We're ready to play!" 

Capt. Joseph Foss, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Rodeo team chief, has been preparing his team diligently as well. 

"We've been doing lots of physical training every day for the Fit to Fight event," said Captain Foss. "We've been taking as many flights as we can, training on as many ground trainer C-17 Globemaster IIIs as we can, and at Global Medic 2009, we were able to get training on a C-130 Hercules, which is part of the Rodeo competition. 

The 446th Security Forces Rodeo team has been training similar to going on a deployment, according to Chief Master Sgt. Edwin Stewart, 446th SFS Rodeo team chief. 

"We have been running 30 to 35 miles a week," said Chief Stewart. "We have been training with full battle gear on, all of which weighs a little more than 35 pounds. We have expended about 4,000 rounds of ammunition training at Fort Lewis to hone our shooting skills. We have trained with our brothers from the 62nd Security Forces Squadron. They invited us to join them at the Fort Lewis obstacle course, because practicing on the McChord course would have given us an unfair advantage, so I thank them for their support. Our goal is to provide as many points as we can to our wing team. If we happen to win some other hardware along the way, that would be great, but the goal is to be the best C-17 Wing at Rodeo."

According to Colonel Tentschert, everything within the Rodeo Aircrew's control will be performed at the Ph.D. level.

"The aircrew has working really hard," said Colonel Tentschert. "They started training 45 days ago, flying two to three missions per week, sorties, combat offloads, and air refueling, just to name a few. There shouldn't be anything standing in their way of maxing out their scores and winning."

The 86th Aerial Port Rodeo team has also been frequently getting their hands dirty with training, according to Tech. Sgt. Ronald Rendorio, load team chief with 86th APS.

"We have been doing a lot of running and Engine Running On/Offloads," said Sergeant Rendorio. "I think we have done the best we can to prepare for this year's Rodeo. I hope we can walk away with the ERO trophy."

"Oh we are ready for this," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Thomsen, Rodeo Aerial Port team member and Rodeo veteran. "I believe we have a real good chance of taking some trophies home this year."

Along with preparation, Captain Foss and Sergeant Cherrix emphasize the importance of experience and consistency when it comes to Rodeo performance. 

"We won the Best Contingency Flight and Best Aeromedical Evacuation Team in 2007," said Captain Foss. "With our experience from last Rodeo and a strong team this year, hopefully we'll bring some more trophies back to the (wing)." 

"Maintenance also won the Best Preflight Team Award in Rodeo 2005," said Sergeant Cherrix. "We've been training since May 4, but we have also talked to a lot of people who have won in the past, getting tips on how to improve performance. I have no worries about how we'll do."