Forum: Air Force Life

Quote:

Wear Blues Wednesday

by Staff Sgt. Jessica Tope
43rd Airlift Wing historian

5/3/2007 - POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- As Pope prepares for its last Air Mobility RODEO as a wing this summer, the base will wear the blue service uniform Wednesday to celebrate this event.

The Air Mobility RODEO is a combat skills competition designed to enhance air mobility operations techniques and procedures for both aircrews and support personnel. Pope was honored as the first installation to host an Airlift Rodeo in April 1962.

Pope hosted the RODEO in April, 2000 in which the opening ceremony included a High-Altitude Low Opening (HALO) parachute jump, a mass paratrooper airdrop and a performance by the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Chorus.

The flying portion of the competition commenced at the end of the long day of flight and ground operations everyone met at "Dodge City," a central meeting place located on Fort Bragg.

The time at Dodge City was used to compare scores, see old friends and meet competitors from all over the world and to praise the victors at the nightly awards ceremony.

During the closing ceremony, the 43rd Airlift Wing was awarded the Best Airdrop Wing, the Best C-130/C-160 wing, and the best Joint Airdrop Inspection team. Additionally, the 21st Special Tactics squadron was honored as the best Special Tactics Team.

The 43rd AW raised the standard of hosting the RODEO competition to a new level.
McCord AFB, Wash., will host the next Air Mobility RODEO competition from July 22 to 28 and this will be the last RODEO competition the 43rd AW will compete in as a wing due to the Base Realignment and Closure law.

For more information about the historical data reflecting the 43rd AW, the Air Mobility RODEO or any other historical related issues, call Staff Sgt. Jessica Tope at 394-1075.

Huh? Now, I'm up for a celebration as much as anybody, but who thought that this would be a good idea?!? Nothing says celebration like having to drag a set of blues out of the wall locker...

Mike

F-16.net Sponsor

Nothing like a little mandatory morale to boost the troop's enthusiasm.

Hehe...my ANG unit has been given a one year notice of an open ranks blues inspection. Hell, a lot of the older guys are one...some two...style of blues behind. I still have a set of blues from 1986 (upgraded to Buck Sgt) from basic training in my closet. Still has all the chrome accessories for when I went through PME in 89...and looks sharp. Luckily I was issued new blues last year...now I just need to get the pants hemmed.

ATTENTION!

AT 1700 HRS THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY MORALE PARTY
FOOD AND DRINK WILL NOT BE PROVIDED
UNIFORM OF THE DAY WILL BE SERVICE BLUE
ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN

THIS IS A MANDATORY FORMATION

YOU WILL GO

YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME

Surely, a Dining In would have been more appropriate.

I haven't even seen my blues since I was at tech school at Keesler. I'm not at all confident I could come up with them without months of advance notice.

maddog2840 wrote:

ATTENTION!

AT 1700 HRS THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY MORALE PARTY
FOOD AND DRINK WILL NOT BE PROVIDED
UNIFORM OF THE DAY WILL BE SERVICE BLUE
ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN

THIS IS A MANDATORY FORMATION

YOU WILL GO

YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME

Hey, I think I was at that party...

Was graduating from FTD at MacDill back in '87 (hey Stut, remember that?) and had to wear our blues for the ceremony (when the FTD Commander Colonel, walked in, handed us our certificates, and walked back out). One of the guys in the class had some trouble dressing that morning and couldn't find any black (or blue, or grey, or...) socks and the best that he could do was bright frickin' neon orange hunting socks. I can still see our instructor closing her eyes and just shaking her head. Think that stood out?

Well not as much as this... At Torrejon we had an EMS commander that we, let's just say that we didn't think much of, who called a blues inspection in Phase. "And this is going to be a real inspection. If anyone fails, they'll be doing this weekly from now on." We had a guy who was within a month of getting out, who decided to see just how 'real' the inspection was going to be. On inspection morning, as we lined us waiting for or dear Major (Major Pain in the a$$, maybe you've heard of him?) to show up, our 'ringer' pulled his pants up to just under his ribcage and we saw that he had on the largest shoes that he could borrow (looked like clown shoes), on the wrong feet, with no socks.

The Major, as he passed through the ranks stopped when he got to him, looked him up and down, and held out his hand "Airman ......, you look very good today. Are you sure we can't talk you into re-enlisting?"

Mike

Yes I remember that. I also remember goin below the zone at Macdill and having to swap out parts of the uniform with the other guys so they could go in front of the board. We did that a couple times up at selfridge as well.

stutler wrote:

Yes I remember that. I also remember goin below the zone at Macdill and having to swap out parts of the uniform with the other guys so they could go in front of the board. We did that a couple times up at selfridge as well.

Actually I think I might have had your hat, and ribbons, and maybe belt during the BTZ... Sort of a mix n' match in the orderly room.

Mike