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Q & A: McGuire's Rodeo tanker maintenance team

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Robert Hwang
  • 305th Maintenance Squadron
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  1. What are the different specialties on the KC-10 Maintenance Rodeo team, and how were the team members picked for your Rodeo team? The team is comprised of a team chief, a lead production supervisor, three crew chiefs, a guidance and control specialist, electro-environmental specialist, hydraulic specialist, engine specialist and communications/navigation specialist. Each person who has been chosen is considered to be the best of the best in their field. 

2. How many events will the team compete in? The team will be judged on four events, for three awards: Best KC-10 Maintenance Team, Best KC-10 Preflight Team and Best KC-10 Post-flight team. 

3. What are the events?
-- Pre-Flight Inspection
-- Basic Post-Flight Inspection
-- Aircraft Refueling Ops
-- Daily Observations (Launch and
-- Recovery Ops, Safety ,etc.) 

4. Are there certain events that the team is really looking forward to compete in over the others? The team is looking forward to the whole competition in general. We want to go and have a good time while keeping focused, and show Travis what a real maintenance attitude is all about. 

5. When was the last Rodeo your squadron competed in and how did they do? The 605 AMXS competed in the 2005 Rodeo and took home the best post-flight trophy. We're definitely hoping to improve on that this year. 

6. What are the expectations for this team? We expect to go out there and show everyone how we do things at McGuire, and bring home the trophies. 

7. How has the team prepared for the competition? (What type of conditioning, freshen-up on job skills, etc) Most of our preparation goes into getting the jet ready and going through the inspections that we're going to be graded on over and over again. The thing we've been focused on is doing things the right way, and ensuring that any one team member knows what the rest of the team is doing at all times. As far as PT is concerned, we've made sure to make time to hit the gym and get ourselves ready for the PT portion of the RODEO. 

8. Have any team members competed in a Rodeo before or is this the first? Both Staff Sgt. Velez and Staff Sgt. Brown both competed in the 2005 Rodeo. It's something brand new for the other 80 percent of the team. 

9. How do competitions like the Rodeo help your squadron in its mission? Competitions like this really create cohesiveness in a unit. It seems like everyone is ready and willing to lend a hand, because there's an understanding that we are representatives of both the 605th AMXS and the 305th MXG. It will definitely be a huge morale booster MXG-wide when we bring home the trophies.