Yokota maintainers prepare for 2009 AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Pierce
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  This year a selected group of Yokota Airmen and a C-130 Hercules from the 374th Airlift Wing will participate in the Air Mobility Command Rodeo, which begins July 19 at  McChord Air Force Base, Wash. 

The 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is one of five units from Yokota that will compete against teams from around the Air Force, as well as international teams from Belgium, Germany, Malaysia, Israel, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Spain. 

During the Rodeo aircraft maintainers play an important role in the success of their aircraft's performance. The 374th AMXS has chosen a team of maintainers specializing in different skills such as hydraulics, communication navigation, crew chiefs, engine specialist, aircraft electricians and guidance control technicians. 

The maintenance teams worked diligently for months to prepare the C-130 for competition. The maintenance score makes up 20 percent of the total team score which can prove vital in winning an event. 

"We put in a lot of hours preparing for the rodeo," said Staff Sgt. Corey Boyer, 374th AMXS communications navigation technician. "I hope that all of our hard work and dedication we poured in to this aircraft pay off by winning." 

Maintenance teams will be evaluated on pre-flight and post-flight inspections, fuel servicing and daily observations. This includes aircraft launch and recovery, maintenance, forms documentation and safety.

They will compete for Best C-130 Pre-Flight Inspection Team and Best C-130 Post-Flight Inspection Team.

The team will also compete for the Maintenance Knucklebuster Award, which is presented to the maintenance team that displays the highest standard of professionalism, dedication, and mutual respect for other competitors. This award is voted on by each maintenance team chief.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to participate with the team of maintainers we're taking, I anticipate good competition and camaraderie," said Capt. Al Martz, 374th AMXS maintenance operations officer. "I'm not making any predictions, but I'm confident our maintenance team will represent the 374th AW well."