Squadron "rounds up" learning and fun

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
The 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron circled the wagons June 11 for their first ROADEO.

The concept of a ROADEO isn't new. Air Force Materiel Command hosted similar events in the mid 2000's which pitted AFMC base logisticians against each other in competitive activities. But, a heavy deployment schedule for the career field halted the competitions.

Lt. Col. Christopher Holmes, LRS commander, said resurrecting the ROADEO is a way for the 400 active duty and 125 civilians assigned to the squadron to get together and have some fun.

"It's a day to unify the squadron," he said, "and show off the different skills our folks have."

The scheduled events included a 4K forklift slalom, pallet build-up, tractor trailer backing and tire change. Before the competition, and a western themed lunch, a commander's call gave squadron members a chance to talk to some of the helping agencies here during an informal information fair.

"Deployments have been almost routine, it's sad to say," Colonel Holmes said. "This was an opportunity to bring in the helping agencies to really talk to our folks about what (services) they provide. Just as we use our 'loggie' skills to support the war, they use their skills to help us."

Squadron First Sergeant, Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Ingram, said the information fair was an opportunity to reinforce what agencies are available to those who are getting ready to deploy or recently returned from deployment. The spouses were also invited to attend.

"So often we find the information given to the military doesn't get home to the spouses," she said. "We invited them to hear directly from our helping agencies and have time during lunch to stop by and do some one-on-one questions and answers."

Event project manager, 1st Lt. Jeana Quintana said every event will have five teams with a volunteer representative from each of the squadron's four flights: fuels, vehicle maintenance, supply material management and deployment distribution. She was eager to organize the event.

"When I worked in supply, the civilians would tell me about these ROADEOs because I had no idea what they were about," she said. "They are a way to boost morale."

The events didn't disappoint. The heat and humidity added another level of difficulty, but that didn't dampen the teams' determination in the head-to-head competition. The winners of each event are:

TEAM 3 (BLACK) 1st Place

1st Lt. Robertson- LGRDX*
Tech Sgt. Strain-LGRF*
Airman Basic Gentry-LGRF
Staff Sgt. David Forston-LGRM
Staff Sgt. Hare-LGRD
Staff Sgt. Solis-LGRVM
Senior Airman Gonzales-LGRVM
Staff Sgt. Dennis-LGRD
Airman Wiggins-LGRD

TEAM 1 (RED) 2nd Place

1st Lt. Quintana- LGRDX*
Master Sgt. Hudson-LGRF*
Senior Airman Lord-LGRF
Staff Sgt. Choy Alexander-LGRM
Mr. Whipple-LGRD
Staff Sgt. Lashbrook-LGRVM
Airman First Class Jernigan-LGRVM
Airman First Class Juan Baires-LGRD
Staff Sgt. Leytham- LGRD

TEAM 2 (BLUE) 3rd Place

Captain Costilla- LGRD*
Tech Sgt. Codrington-LGRVM*
Staff Sgt. Stallings -LGRF
Staff Sgt. Fillers- LGRF
Staff Sgt. Paul Brotherton-LGRM
Senior Airman Broidrick-LGRD
Airman First Class Bonus-LGRVM
Senior Airman Santos-LGRD
Staff Sgt. Strait- LGRD

TEAM 4 (TAN ABU undershirt) 4th Place

Lt Col. Holmes*
Staff Sgt. Stanfield-LGRD*
Staff Sgt. Laws-LGRF
Staff Sgt. Overton-LGRF
Airman First Class Ebony Owens-LGRM
Senior Airman Warren-LGRD
Staff Sgt. Willis-LGRVM
Staff Sgt. Murray-LGRVM
AIRMAN FIRST CLASS Jeremy Gonzales-LGRD


TEAM 5 (GRAY PT shirt)-5th Place
LT Palmer-LGRF*
Staff Sgt. Blowers-LGRF*
Airman First Class Andrew Johnson-LGRF
Amn Jonathan McGee-LGRM
Staff Sgt. Thomas-LGRD
Senior Airman Peters-LGRVM
Staff Sgt. Bacquerie-LGRVM
Airman First Class Joseph Garcia LGRD
Staff Sgt. Gammons-LGRD