Rodeo team ready to go

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erin Smith
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  After numerous hours of dunnage and litter-carrying practice on Hickam's flightline, members of the rodeo team are ready to pull chocks Wednesday and head to McChord Air Force Base, Wash. to get their cowboy on.

"I am very excited about this," said Airman 1st Class Daray Davis, 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron Combat Mobility Element, air transportation specialist here. "I think we are going to do well. We are all physically fit and conditioned from PT."

Airman Davis added that he is anxious but equally keyed up about the four-mile obstacle course which includes a litter carry, self-aid and buddy care, and configuring and tying down a pallet.

"I have no doubt that we will be able to complete it, it's just that we are going into it blindly, having never participated in a competition before," Airman Davis said.

This being their first rodeo, the crew is closing the gap with many hours of practice and physical conditioning. The Airmen's biggest challenge is the engine-running offload event, loading a Humvee with trailer and a K-loader onto a running C-17. The wheels-up goal for the team is four minutes.

After the first day of trying to meet the deadline, Airman Davis told his wife that it was difficult to complete it under seven minutes.

He added that as the days passed, the time dropped. Now, they are loading in less than five minutes.

With time and repetition comes organization. Reading each other's hand signals and body now prevents over-correction when backing equipment into the aircraft.

It's a job description previously unseen for many on the team, according to Master Sgt. Greg Martinez, 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron Combat Mobility Element, and rodeo team member.

"Our normal duty is to go along on airdrop missions and recover chutes," he said. "Many of the tasks we are working on aren't part of our day-to-day job, like other teams. We are using that to our advantage by practicing these tasks. Most see this as a disadvantage but we see it as an advantage since we aren't complacent."

With the hours of practice going into the event, the team should be anything but complacent. Regardless of result, some victories have already been achieved.

"No matter what the outcome of the rodeo, I will be proud of all the guys' efforts and commitment," Sergeant Martinez said.