MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The Patriot Wing made a precise transcontinental arrival as part of the opening of the Air Force's premier airlift competition held here.
Following a 2,460-mile trip from Westover, Majs. Glenn Melia and Mike Smith, 337th Airlift Squadron, put the C-5 wheels on the runway here at 11:34 and 59 seconds - one second before a mandatory 11:35 a.m. arrival. Rodeo rules allowed a one-minute window for the arrival - the first of a week-long schedule of competitions.
More than 33 members of the 439th Airlift Wing are at the Air Mobility Command (AMC) base. Team members include competitors in aircrew, aeromedical evacuation, security forces, and aerial port.
Gen. Duncan McNabb, AMC commander, greeted each of the teams with a salute to the Patriot Wing competitors during opening ceremonies for the Rodeo competition.
Other Air Force Reserve C-5 units participating are from Dover AFB, Del., and Travis AFB, Calif. The Patriot Wing members are competing against 42 other Rodeo teams from the Air Force and from around the world.
The competitions began Monday with teams from the 439th aeromedical evacuation, security forces, and aerial port squadrons.
The AES team's competition first took place aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker parked on the McChord flight line. "We went onto the KC-135, and configured the aircraft," said Senior Airman Marybeth Young, aeromedical evacuation technician. "Suddenly we were told that the tanker had mechanical difficulties. We went from a KC-135 to the C-17. We built that from the ground up. We had 10 minutes to brief a patient positioning plan with that tail swap."
SFS members traveled to the other side of the McChord airfield for their scenario. The scenario tasked the Airmen with escorting medical personnel carrying vaccinations to a local Red Cross within a West African village, said SFS member Staff Sgt. Jason Pelletier. "Local warlords engaged the SF competitors and were trying to disrupt the delivery of the vaccinations," Sergeant Pelletier said. The SF members protected the medical personnel and neutralized the threat and safely escorted the medical people back to an awaiting C-17, Sergeant Pelletier said.
In Monday's third competition, the aerial port team underwent cargo inspection evaluations. Although initial scores won't be available until Wednesday, the Patriot Wing team chief said he's already pleased with how the competition has gone for the 439th.
"We're focused and we're ready to win," said Lt. Col. John Healy. "We have a team that will show the Air Force how Westover gets the job done."
In the spirit of the Rodeo tradition, the team set up its own wing tent that set the Westover presence apart from the other teams. Patriot Wing flags encircled a grill, and a live band comprised of Rodeo members played rock music at night under the tent. Tech. Sgt.Ron Phelps, 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, chiseled Patriot Wing ice sculptures. Tech. Sgt. Kevin Godbout, 337th AS flight engineer, is the Rodeo team chief assistant and chef for the Rodeo team.
Brig. Gen. Wade Farris, 439th AW commander, flew with the Rodeo team members from Westover and is spending the week at McChord as well.
"It's this kind of camaraderie that sets the 439th apart from other wings," General Farris said. "This is the kind of esprit de corps and winning attitude that I believe will help us win some trophies here."
Rodeo concludes on July 27. The Westover Rodeo team is scheduled to return July 28.