AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Laura McAndrews
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill --  Three of the remaining nine Doolittle Raiders will attend the Air Mobility Rodeo at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., July 19 through 24.

The Doolittle Raiders are special guests of General Arthur Lichte, AMC commander, and are scheduled to attend Rodeo competitions, demonstrations and a town hall meeting July 22 as well as hold an autograph signing session July 23 for personnel with authorized access to McChord.

The Doolittle Raiders accomplished the first air bombing raid by the United States against a Japanese island during World War II using 16 B-25B bombers launched from the USS Hornet, a Naval aircraft carrier. 

All 16 aircraft were lost and 11 crew members were either killed or captured. One of the bombers landed in Soviet territory where the crew was interned for more than one year.
"We are truly honored and humbled to have these heroic Airmen of our nation's 'Greatest Generation' as our guests for this event," said Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, AMC director of operations and Rodeo leader.

The more than 2,500 Mobility Airmen from around the globe participating in the biannual, multinational readiness competition compete in core AMC capabilities of air drop, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and cargo delivery operations. Rodeo also focuses on ground operations, including: security forces, combat control, aerial port, and maintenance.

More than 100 United States Air Force, Reserve and Guard teams will compete against each other as well as against international air force and U.S. Marines Corps teams.

Rodeo will host seven foreign competitors and 17 observing countries including military competitors from Belgium, Israel, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Turkey

Other international military members observing the events include representatives from Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and Vietnam. NATO will also be sending a representative to observe.

A variety of more than 40 aircraft will be used during this year's competition including: C-5s, C-17s, C-130s, KC-10s, KC-135s, C-160s, C-21s, C-20s, C-32s, C-295 and T-1s.

"Air Mobility Command provides our country with unrivaled global reach -- anyplace, anytime," said General Bash. "Rodeo gives us an opportunity to share our tactics and techniques with each other and our friends from around the world."

Daily overseas contingency operations demonstrate how AMC is firmly in the fight, as AMC accounts for approximately 70 percent of the air missions flown in the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility. AMC Airmen fly into harm's way, every day, to deliver troops, cargo and fuel with speed and precision. On a typical day, mobility forces fly about 900 sorties and move nearly 2,000 tons of cargo and more than 6,000 passengers. This operations tempo equates to a mobility aircraft departure every 90 seconds 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For more than 50 years, Rodeo has helped Air Force mobility professionals foster teamwork and hone their skills, developing professional, disciplined Airmen. The previous Rodeo was held in 2007. This year introduces a new award - The Best Contingency Response Unit.

The overall winners of 2009 Rodeo will receive the "Best Air Mobility Team" award, the General William G. Moore Trophy. In 2007 the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif., took home the honors. The competition wraps up with more than 100 awards, the top 16 to be presented July 24 during the closing ceremonies.