McChord Field welcomes RODEO guests Published July 15, 2011 By Col. R. Wyn Elder 62nd Airlift Wing commander JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Guests of Air Mobility Command RODEO 2011, welcome to Joint Base Lewis-McChord! RODEO is an invaluable competition that showcases the best of US and international mobility forces and we're glad to have you here. This year we are expecting more than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, as well as 35 allied nations, to participate. RODEO is more than a chance to compete with the best of the best from around the globe; it helps foster international relationships and provides a forum to share tactics and techniques that in turn will improve our collective global mobility effectiveness. Our international partners are essential to this success. Many of you will form life-long partnerships and friendships at this year's RODEO; some of you have formed those friendships years ago. I encourage you all to continue to share and work together during the competitions, training, and symposium events. This is the first year for the International Aeromedical Evacuation and En Route Care Conference and the International Airdrop Symposium. I can't say enough about the life saving capabilities of our aeromedical evacuation teams and know you will enjoy these as well as the other events and competitions. The men and women of Joint Base Lewis-McChord have worked hard to prepare a world-class event for you. We're here to ensure you feel welcomed, comfortable and safe. There are hundreds of people dedicated to making this year's RODEO an international success. I encourage all our competitors and observers to strive for new levels of excellence and make this the best RODEO ever. Good luck and let the games begin!