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My last Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Col. James Kerr
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing commander
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  That sounds like a country western song doesn't it? "My Last Rodeo." And since I'm in the latter stages of my career, it very well could be my last Rodeo.

I have had the honor of participating in Airlift Rodeo since 1984. I was a brand new co-pilot in C-141s at Norton AFB in Southern California. When I first learned of what it was, I immediately became interested. I thought then "How incredible is that, to compete with comrades in a large jet...." A "Top Gun" type of flying but in the airlift vernacular. 

Since I was new to the C-141 and the Rodeo-required experience (i.e. the squadron's best), all the chief pilot would allow me to do then was be the team public affairs member - writing stories for the base paper as our team prepared for the competition. From beginning to end, it was a hoot! I decided then to make it my goal to be a pilot crew member. And sure enough, by the time the next Rodeo competition rolled around, I was fortunate to be chosen as our team's co-pilot.

Airlift Rodeo is just a marvelous aviation opportunity. Again, it is a chance to compete with comrades with no inspection grade associated with it, unlike our recent Operational Readiness Inspection. It is an Airlift/Air Mobility Command Mecca where the wing can bolster their best as well as have a good time socializing in the evening at "The Ranch," a tent city where the participating wings bring indigenous wares to share. Every year it seems to grow larger with more competitive events. Representatives competing from as many as fifty nations come to partake. 

As I recall, I believe I've participated in all the Rodeos since 1984 except one ( I was commanding a Reserve AWACS unit - AWACS is an Air Combat Command-gained weapon system ... therefore a non-participant.) I served in the capacities, as mentioned earlier, of the unit public affairs representative or UPAR, a pilot several times, an umpire several times, and as a commander several times. 

Each one, I had the frame of mind that it was a wonderful opportunity and that I may never get to do it again. But what a blessing each and every one has been. It may be time to hang up the spurs, but Airlift Rodeo will live on because we have the air power to strut: Meaning to be "faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, a legacy of valor."