Air Mobility Command Cancels 2013 Rodeo

Air Mobility Command this week cancelled this year’s mobility air forces readiness competition—Rodeo 2013—that was slated to take place in July at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., due to budget shortfalls. “Given the fiscal uncertainty and current budget cuts, this was the right thing to do,” said Gen. Paul Selva, AMC commander, in a March 13 release. “This is an important and uniquely useful event for mobility air forces and our international partners. We’ll get back to holding Rodeo as soon as we can,” he added. This marks the first time since 2003 that AMC has cancelled the rodeo, states the release. AMC sponsors the rodeo to train and improve the skills of US and partner air forces’ mobility airmen and build relationships. More than 20 US teams and a dozen allied nations were set to participate in this year’s competition in events testing the abilities of airlift and aerial refueling aircrews, maintainers, aerial porters, and aeromedical evacuation personnel, states the release.