April 24, 2007 - Air Force To Observe USAF's Air Mobility RODEO 2007

The Indian Air Force will attend an upcoming international air mobility competition hosted by the US Air Force as an observer. The Air Mobility RODEO 2007 will be held between July 22-July 28 at McChord Air Force Base in Washington. The biennial event is the USAF's Mobility Air Force (MAF) readiness competition.

Air Mobility Rodeo 2007, sponsored by the Air Mobility Command, is the Mobility Air Force's (MAF) readiness competition. This competition focuses on improving our worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities. RODEO 2007 will be held at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, July 22-28, 2007.

More than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, and Air Force Reserve, as well as allied nations, are expected to participate. Because of budget constraints no Air National Guard units plan to participate.

The last biennial competition took place in June 2005 at McChord AFB after a five-year hiatus due to the increase in the operations tempo in support of the Global War on Terror. While the operations tempo remains high, Maj. Gen. Scott Gray, USAF Expeditionary Center commander and Rodeo 2007 commander, says it's important that AMC continue this key event.

In October 1956, 13 troop carrier wings of the Continental Air Command, the Air Force Reserve Command's predecessor, sent crews to participate in a "Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo" at Bakalar AFB, Indiana. The first airdrop competition for units of the active-duty force occurred in April 1962, when the Military Air Transport Service held a MATS-wide Rodeo at Scott AFB, Illinois.

The 1962 competition was a combat skills competition designed to develop and improve techniques/procedures while enhancing air mobility operations, and promoting esprit de corps. In 1979, Rodeo was expanded to include our international air mobility partners. Rodeo tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of special tactics, security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation, and maintenance team members. It also provides valuable joint and combined training for all participants.

An important long-term benefit is increased cooperation between air mobility forces from several nations. Collectively, the ultimate goal of the competition is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance air mobility operations. Spirited competition furthers that aim, while strengthening the mutual goals and bonds of friendship developed between competing teams.

Rodeo showcases AMC's best of the best and allows us to train and learn through spirited competition," said General Gray. "Not only does this world-class competition train mobility forces for the fight, it provides a forum for Airmen and our international partners to share the best of tactics and techniques. Improvement and cooperation are essential in the continued pursuit of the Global War on Terrorism."

Rodeo competitions are designed as military training events and are not open to the general public.

India Defence - New Delhi,Delhi,India