RODEO's Top Refuelers

Team McConnell's RODEO team receives a wet-welcome home at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., on July 25. Reserve Airmen from the 931st Air Refueling Group and active-duty Airmen represented McConnell as a blended team at the week-long, biennial competition for the first time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell)

Blended crew wins best aerial refueling team award

Lt. Col. John Wood, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, holds the trophy for Best Aerial Refueling Team at Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 following an awards ceremony at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., July 24, 2009. Colonel Wood and KC-135 boom operator Senior Master Sgt. John Wallman, to Colonel Wood's right, are Air Force reservists in the 931st Air Refueling Group at McConnell AFB, Kan. They teamed up with Regular Air Force Airmen from McConnell's 22nd Air Refueling Wing to win the team award. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell)

Team McConnell, RODEO 2009

Members from Team McConnell?s RODEO security forces evacuate a simulated casualty during a combat weapons competition at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., on July 22. Senior Airman Nathan Shelley, a Reservist assigned to the 931st Air Refueling Group, was part of the security team. Reservists and active-duty Airmen represented McConnell as a total-force RODEO team for the first time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell)

Blended crew wins best aerial refueling team award

Published July 28, 2009

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A blended crew of Air Force Reserve and Regular Air Force Airmen from here won the Best Aerial Refueling Team award at the Air Mobility Rodeo, McChord AFB, Wash.

Lt. Col. John Wood, a Reserve KC-135 Stratotanker pilot from the 931st Air Refueling Group, accepted the trophy July 24on behalf of the crew. Another reservist, Senior Master Sgt. John Wallman, was a boom operator on the team.

The 931st ARG is a classic associate unit that flies and maintains KC-135 aircraft with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, the host unit at McConnell. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)