Fourth Combat Camera Squadron leads photo team at 2009 Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Vanessa Gempis and Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Heard
  • 452 AMW
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.--The Fourth Combat Camera Squadron (4th CTCS) represented March ARB at the 2009 Air Mobility Rodeo as the leaders of the Rodeo Combat Camera team. The exercise began on July 18 and ended July 24. 

The biennial Air Mobility Rodeo is a combat skills and flying operations competition designed to develop and improve techniques. More than 2,500 people on 100 teams competed in the 2009 competition. Participants came from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and allied nations. The last competition took place in July 2007 at McChord. 

The Rodeo Combat Camera team captures video and photos to document every major event at the RODEO for historical archives, training, media releases and other publications. This was the first time that Fourth Combat Camera Squadron has taken the lead at Rodeo. 

"Our sister squadron on active duty (1st CTCS) usually leads the documentation support," explained Major Michiko Riley, Fourth Combat Camera Squadron project officer. "But due to real world commitments the Rodeo staff Public Affairs asked Fourth CTCS for assistance." 

The Rodeo Combat Camera team consisted of 20 personnel from 4th CTCS, as well as seven others from bases across the United States. According to Major Riley, this was approximately a third of the amount of people typically assigned the task of documenting the event. 

Major Riley was proud of the Fourth Combat Camera Squadron's work. "They have done a fantastic job," she said. "In the end the team produced some fabulous still and video products; the [Rodeo] staff couldn't have been more pleased with everyone's performance." 

It was an awarding experience for the members of Fourth CTCS documenting the event. 

"That's why I joined this career field," said Senior Airman Jonathan Garcia, 4th CTCS videographer. "For the very fact that we get to see what everyone else is doing in the Air Force and then some." 

Garcia enjoyed seeing and greeting people from different countries. "I tried to learn their language's greeting, and when they saw I was trying, it put a smile on their face. It built a lot of camaraderie."