DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga -- During the 94th Airlift Wing’s April Unit Training Assembly, members of the 700th Flying Squadron and 94th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron participated in a two-day flying and maintenance rodeo to assess and enhance the individual skills and unit capabilities of Dobbins’ Reserve Citizen Airmen while moving toward the Secretary of Defense’s goal to restore warrior ethos across the force.
The first day of the rodeo consisted of overall aircraft inspection, aircrew capabilities and technical knowledge while the second was used to build morale. While maintainers focused on ensuring the Wing’s aircraft were fully mission capable and safe for flight, the aircrew members validated specific skills and technical knowledge needed for both routine and tactical flying operations as well as airdrop procedures. On the second day the AMXS Reserve Citizen Airmen were split into three groups: lower enlisted Airmen, non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers. The morale building activities were designed to test individual fitness standards while also validating general Air Force knowledge and included events such as a tow bar push and pull relay, a chock relay race, chock hold, push-ups, sit-ups and planks.
“The event was designed to test and validate specific skills and competencies across our crews, said 1st Lt. Andrew Shepley, C-130H pilot assigned to the 700th Airlift Squadron. “We regularly conduct these maneuvers and apply our knowledge and skills during every flight, but the rodeo pits us against each other for a bit of friendly competition. It also allows our instructors to teach us new skillsets in a specialized training environment. I hope this event lays the groundwork to make this a regular training event for the Wing.”
The rodeo also served as a way to validate and ensure that safety is paramount of mind for all Airmen, at all times.
“The rodeo helped people figure out where their shortcomings were in a non-pressure environment,” said Staff Sgt. Sophia Matla, 94th AMXS crew chief. “Fixing airplanes is the highest stress part of my job because I want to make sure, since I know my friends fly on these planes, they go home to their families every day. If I'm not competent in my position then I could potentially hinder their safety, and I absolutely do not want that.”
To evaluate the participants, score sheets were used to assess items such as the cleanliness of the interior and exterior of aircraft, how maintainers interacted with the aircrew members and whether or not Airmen demonstrated the technical competencies to perform maintenance itsm they they needed to without being asked, according to Matla.
“That's how we figured out people's shortcomings,” Matla said. “Before the pilots get out there you are supposed to have the plane ready to go so they can get on and take off, so we were trying to make sure people knew the sequence of events without being told. It was for new people to evaluate where they're at and where we as supervisors need to be.”
Serving in the military can be stressful, and according to Matla, since aircraft maintenance is such a high stress environment, it’s good to have days for people to relax [relay and strength portion of the rodeo].
“This is a team effort so everyone needs to make sure they’re involved,” said Matla. “If you don't have a good relationship with the people you work with in a high stress field it’s hard to work with them, so making sure you are close to the people around you is important in this kind of environment.”
In total, three C-130H aircraft and dozens of Airmen across the two squadrons competed against each other during the rodeo. The competition ended with a judging for best maintenance and flight crew in each category, as well as an honorary piano burn to commemorate the event of the rodeo and the upcoming 75th anniversary of the 94th Bombardment Group, the unit from which the 94th Airlift Wing hails.