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Fairchild amongst first financial specialists’ debut at Air Mobility Rodeo 2011

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Buzanowski
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Three finance specialist from the 92nd Comptroller Squadron helped make Air Mobility Rodeo history when the financial management community joined the competition for the first time.

Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Johnson, Staff Sgt. Christie Bates and Senior Airman Lyndell Bouie had a rigorous schedule that included 12-14 hours each competition day of finance scenarios and physical challenges.

"This competition is set up to simulate a three-person team supporting 1,500-3,000 forces," said Chief Master Sgt. Alberto Castaneda, the enlisted functional manager for Air Mobility Command's financial management directorate.

Teams arrived with their deployment pallet July 23 and then set up their work centers the following day in preparation to tackle 155 scenarios in four days. "These are fact-based scenarios at a bare base - lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan. This event definitely adds value to what we bring. No one can operate without money. Even during war we have to follow fiscal law - and we don't want our Airmen to lose that focus," said Castaneda.

The finance competition took place in McChord Field's Hangar 2. More than a dozen team offices were made out of support poles and blue and white curtains. The Fairchild's finance team was named "Money Bags." Scenarios were given from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and did not include setting up and closing down their customer service areas each day.

"The competition was overwhelming, easy, difficult, crazy and fun all at the same time," said Bouie. "We were all tested on our knowledge to see what we could do. We all helped each other out at some point during the scenarios."

For Johnson, it was a good experience. "Even though we don't set up bases very often, it gives you an idea of what to expect if you were ever in that situation and how to get funds in place and set up accounts. You need to be well-rounded in the entire finance career field. Also, with us being here everyone else see the long hours we put in. We work just as hard as everyone else on base."

Team dynamics definitely played a role in the three's performance. "We definitely started working better as a team at the middle of the competition," said Bates. "No one scenario stands out for me - I was really confident and comfortable with all but about 20 percent of them."

In the midst of having multiple timed scenarios going on at once, Spokane-area civic leaders would show their support with simple gestures of food and drink before being ushered away by finance umpires.

"I was very impressed with the Fairchild finance team," said Dennis Clay, civic leader from the Moses Lake community. "I never realized they worked so hard and then on top of all the paperwork they were required to run an endurance course that tested their physical and mental abilities under stress."

The civic leaders flew over with the team from Fairchild July 23 and would try to see as many Fairchild teams compete throughout the competition. For most Airmen, this was their first interaction with the civic leaders.

"At first I was wondering who the civic leaders were and why they were talking to us so much," said Bates. "But you can definitely say they were my favorite part of Rodeo. They were cheering us on at the challenge course, they brought us food when we couldn't leave for lunch or dinner -- it was so nice having them there. They were a huge morale boost for me."

Bouie echoed the sentiments. "We loved them," said Bouie. "They actually made our day. They came in and surprised us - we didn't expect it and we love them for that. They were very supportive."

"That was good morale booster," said Johnson. "When they came to check on us to see how we were doing and if we needed anything especially with the fast pace of how the scenarios were going that was a big relief and very much appreciated."

Other Fairchild Rodeo team members would show their support as well. For Johnson, the most memorable moment was at the challenge course - a 2-mile run that tested an Airmen's endurance and survival skills. Lt. Col. Brad Hamby, Fairchild Rodeo team chief, ran with the team back to the finish line after the M-16 assembly station. "You don't see too many colonels running with. He was a good morale booster as well - he was pushing us along."