317th takes off to AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 317th Airlift Group and units from the 7th Bomb Wing takes off to compete in this year's 2011 Air Mobility Command Rodeo, an international airlift competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

The Rodeo is a biennial competition focused on improving worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities.

Teams from the 317th Airlift Group, 7th Security Forces Squadron and 7th Logistics Readiness Squadron are competing in various events during the rodeo.

Competitors will test their skills in air-to-air refueling, on/off loading cargo, aero-medical evacuations, low-level flying, air drops and plenty more.

"Our main goal in this year's AMC Rodeo is to showcase our abilities; doing it as quickly, but most importantly as safely, as possible," said Tech. Sgt. Edgar Perez, 7 LRS rodeo team chief. "If our actions contribute to the 317th winning, then we have done our job."

More than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, and 35 allied nations are expected to participate.

These Airmen are the best Dyess has to offer, said Col. Dan Dagher, 317 AG commander. Every C-130 unit and airlift unit in the entire world is sending a representative to McChord. It's an opportunity to show them how we do things at Dyess."

Teams have been preparing for the competition for months, but some went through extra training the last 30 days to ensure they were ready.

"The last 30 days we put our team through some very extensive training," said Tech. Sgt. Erik Garza, SFS rodeo team chief. "We partnered with Abilene Police Department and used the SWAT obstacle course and shooting rage to hone our skills."

The 317 AG has high hopes for bringing home trophies.

"We're going to go out there and give it a 110 percent and hopefully bring it home for the 317th," Perez said.