Team Altus named best AMW at 2011 AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Cheers from friends, family and other base members filled the air as the Altus AFB 2011 Air Mobility Command Rodeo team returned to base from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. July 30.

The AMC Rodeo team from Altus spent July 24-30 competing in various events at the 2011 AMC Rodeo and received 10 awards including the top honor of the competition, the "Best Air Mobility Wing" award.

"I never go in to anything like anybody owes me anything, you have to earn everything that you get, and nothing should be just given to you. The guys competed and they were rewarded. I expected everyone to go out there and do their best and I expected to walk away satisfied knowing that we did our best," said Maj. Paul M. Stanifer, Team Altus' 2011 AMC Rodeo team chief. "We may not have been number one in every single event, but we scored consistently high enough in all of the events that when added up, our total was more than everyone else's."

"I couldn't be prouder. I knew everybody was working hard," Stanifer said. "When a plan comes together and you are rewarded like that you have to thank everybody and the lord above."

Team Altus was praised by the 97th Air Mobility Wing commander for their paramount effort in every event they competed in.

"I am extremely proud of all the members of Team Altus for bringing home the top award from the 2011 AMC Rodeo," said Col. Anthony B. Krawietz, 97th AMW commander. "Capturing the "Best Air Mobility Wing" reflects the high performance of every team who competed and epitomizes the excellence across the board at Altus AFB."

"The ability to win multiple Rodeo awards is a tribute to those who prepared our airmen and to those who stayed behind to get the mission done during the week of competition," Krawietz said. "Altus is truly a reflection of the outstanding support of AMC, Air Education and Training Command, the Guard and the Reserve, who simply send us their best, to our civilians who set the highest standards every day, and to our tremendous community who make Altus AFB a better place to work and live. Well done."

During the Rodeo, Team Altus' "command post" was a tent at JBLM's Rainer Ranch where team members served free food and drinks to thousands of rodeo competitors and spectators from many different bases.

According to Stanifer, the team served approximately 2,500 hot dogs, 600 hamburgers, 20 pounds of chicken wings, 20 pounds of pop corn, three large cases of chips, thousands of beverages and used more than eight tons of ice during the competition.

The food was free because of the Altus Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Committee, and other community members.

"Thank you to the men and women of Altus AFB, the City of Altus, the Altus Chamber of Commerce, the Military Affairs Committee, local businesses and everyone that supported us," Stanifer said. "I want to go back to the first people I mentioned - the people of Altus AFB - many of the people that were on the Rodeo team were from the top of their squadrons and I am sure their absence was missed as they were preparing and away at this Rodeo ... So, thanks Altus AFB for your sacrifice in making sure we were able to prove to the Air Mobility Command and the rest of the world that we are the best."

This is the final segment in an eight-part series.