JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted the first ever Northeastern Ground Transportation Rodeo here, June 9.
The rodeo tested the skills of ground transportation Airmen from JB MDL, Dover Air Force Base and Joint Base Andrews in friendly competition. Each team was evaluated on individual and total team times.
“We’re showcasing our core skills that we’re tasked to do as ground transportation Airmen,” said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Barker, deployment and distribution flight superintendent. “Some of this is tied back into what we do in convoys but other things are what we do day in and day out.”
The competition consisted of four events: an obstacle course, a bus backup, a forklift course and the ‘wheels of infinity,’ a tractor trailer route.
“These are the primary jobs Airman will do on the ground transport support,” added Barker. “We use the bus to transport [servicemembers] being mobilized, we use the tractor trailer to move cargo and the forklift we’re using is more for warehouse movements.”
Last year JB MDL beat Dover AFB in a one on one ground transportation rodeo, this year they added JB Andrews to make it a larger event.
“In the future we hope this event is bigger,” continued Barker. “We hope to add more bases, but also sister services and like functions. For example Marine Aircraft Group 49, a Navy unit, the Aerial Port Squadron and maybe even Civil Engineer Airmen.”
Each base set a team of at least 10 Airmen to compete, having three compete in all driving events and four for the obstacle course.
“These rodeos give us a chance to demonstrate our readiness skills, these are the wartime competencies that we need to be able to do and execute safely,” said Jason Hohenstreiter, Ground Transportation career field manager. “Another benefit is that it brings us together. When we come together and we get that teamwork together, we are that more combat effective, and that’s what rodeos are all about.”