Preparation continues for Elmendorf’s rodeo team

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Preparation continues for Elmendorf's Air Mobility Command Rodeo team. 

Four members from the 3rd Security Forces Squadron and 11 from the 3rd Maintenance Group have really been focused and working hard to assure they are ready to compete July 18-25. 

"Training is going well. We got some guys that are veterans, they've done this before," said Master Sgt. Christopher Titus, 3rd SFS and the team chief for the four-man group. 

Training for the 3rd SFS rodeo team includes few hours at Elmendorf's firing range shooting off about 200 rounds of 556 and 150 round of the 9 mm. They perform this task with 30 pounds of gear on which they will also have to wear while competing. 

After lunch the team meets up at the gym for a three-hour PT session. During their session they will run 3.5 miles, run sprints, spend time bicycling and every now and then some weight training. 

Airman 1st Class Juan Hinojosa described the training as very intense. Hinojosa is also the youngest Airman part of the four-man group, which will be heading to McChord Air Force Base, Wash. 

The SF rodeo team said they feel they're ready for the competition. 

"We know our weaknesses and our strengths," said Staff Sgt. Jose Ramirez, 3rd SFS and member of the AMC Rodeo team. "Where someone is weak, someone else is strong." 

Currently, 11 members from the 3rd MXG have also been working very hard preparing their jet for the competition. 

"Preparation has been slow but we are progressing," said Master Sgt. Terry Hooten, 3rd MXG and team chief for the 11-man crew. 

Hooten had nothing but good things to say about his team. 

"I feel very good about them. They were all handpicked," said Hooten. "I know they'll do their job to the best of their abilities." 

When the team arrives at McChord AFB they will be critiqued on a handful of different scenarios, but the four main components, are air refueling, a launch, a preflight and an inspection, said Hooten. 

Senior Airman Nicholas Luman, 3rd MXG, said that the team has been working very hard, often putting in 12-hour days to accomplish the necessary task. 

"Our jet's going to be in tip-top shape," Luman said proudly.