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Cannon EMT Rodeo wrangles several services into competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 27th Special Operations Medical Group sponsored the 2011 Emergency Medical Technician Rodeo, Sept. 10 at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

This was the fifth consecutive year the competition has been held here, and featured different EMT scenarios ranging from medical trauma to EMT jeopardy.

Also included in the event was a Commando Challenge obstacle course, where EMTs evacuated a patient, performed a liter carry and low crawled through a sand pit while under fire.

"The purpose of the event was to showcase the EMTs and what they can do," said Tech. Sgt. Aramis Cedeño, 27 SOMDG Specialty Flight noncommissioned officer in charge. "An event like this focuses on the EMTs; it shows everyone what they are learning and how well they've learned it."

The rodeo, which was once an Air Force event, has since spread to include other branches within the Department of Defense.

"Each year the event gets progressively larger," said Cedeño. "Last year was the first year we put it out Air Force-wide, and this year it was great to have Army and Navy competitors."

The rodeo brought together nine bases, five major commands, and three services. There were more than 55 competitors, each trying to take home bragging rights for their respective bases.

"We want to represent our bases and supervision in the best possible way," said Senior Airman Heather Reidenbach, 509th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. "Of course winning is the ultimate goal, but it's just a great experience to come see another base and meet new people."

The event was an overall competition judged by several evaluators. In order to take home first place, teams had to perform well in all sections of the event.

"So far our team has had the most difficulty with the trauma scenario, the human body is extremely hard to replicate because of its complexity," said Staff Sgt. Ashley Zemcik, 86th Medical Squadron aerospace medical technician, Ramstein, Germany. "This has been a great competition and everyone has been welcoming; Cannon has been extremely gracious and for us it's been a great first impression."

"Everyone enjoyed themselves during the event, and that's what we wanted," said Cedeño. "We wanted everyone to have fun, and to build camaraderie between the teams and across the services."

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