161st LRS leaves "Roadeo" as champions

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted the second annual Southwest Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants "Roadeo" April 28, 2012, at the Luke Air Force Base 56th LRS POL compound.

According to Tech. Sgt. Abel Telles, 56th LRS fuels supervisor, the goal of this event was to get back to the basics of training, while maintaining and preparing seasoned and new Airmen.

The 161st Logistics Readiness Squadron joined units from Nellis AFB, Nev., Holloman AFB, N.M., Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and the 944th LRS from Luke AFB, Ariz, to compete in this year's roadeo.

The reigning champs, Nellis AFB, came in with heads held high, but also modest as they knew they were in good company.

"We did some time trials yesterday to see where we're at," said Master Sgt. Scott Chandler, 99th LRS. "I think we have a good chance of repeating, but we'll have to prove ourselves on the course."

The teams competed in three events: slalom and backing, figure eight and a tire change. Each course was timed with deductions for hitting cones.

During slalom and backing, each team drove an Oshkosh R11 through cones and backed it into a designated area.

In the second event, drivers navigated through a figure eight course.

The final event was the tire swap. Each team removed dual tires from a vehicle, rolled the first tire around a course and reattached them to the vehicle in the other's original place.

After all was said and done, the 161st LRS left the competition as champions.

"It feels great to be the winner of this year's roadeo," said Master Sgt. Lonnie Luna, 161st LRS fuels management NCO-in-charge. "To have everything click when it mattered and beat these active-duty guys is great."

All of the competitors agreed that the event provided them with the opportunity to reunite and have fun while battling for first place.

"Continuing to have this event allows us to have a family reunion and catch up, while we compete and build camaraderie within our flights and fuels community," said Chief Master Sgt. Sam Hill, 56th LRS fuels manager.