Black Knights resume ATSO Rodeos amidst COVID-19 pandemic

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published July 31, 2020

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Capt. Robert Black (left), Capt. Sydney Freeman (center), and 1st Lt. Jacob Carley, pilots for the 61st Airlift Squadron, perform buddy checks of their gear prior to suiting up for an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

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Capt. Sydney Freeman (left) inspects 1st Lt. Chris Flake, both pilots with the 61st Airlift Squadron, to ensure his protective gear is sealed properly with the aid of Senior Airman. Melissia Ballew, 19th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, prior to an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing continues to forge Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear readiness through monthly ATSO Rodeos. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a CBRN threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

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Senior Airman Melissia Ballew, 19th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, adjusts a pilot's helmet prior to him suiting up for an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

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1st Lt. Jacob Carley, 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, inspects his gear prior to suiting up for an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

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1st Lt. Jacob Carley (left) and Capt. Robert Black, 61st Airlift Squadron pilots, haul their gear to a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing conducts monthly ATSO exercises to maintain full spectrum readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller)

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Capt. Robert Black, 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, performs a pre-flight inspection of a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

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Airman 1st Class Kade Hoffman, 41st Airlift Squadron loadmaster, conducts a pre-flight inspection of a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy McGuffin)

Black Knights resume ATSO Rodeos amidst COVID-19 pandemic

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A pilot from the 61st Airlift Squadron collects his belongings to prepare to go through a simulated decontamination line during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Maj. Nicholas Reeves, Wing Inspection Team member, gives feedback to Airman 1st Class Kade Hoffman, 41st Airlift Squadron loadmaster, on his aircraft inspection during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing conducts monthly ATSO exercises to maintain full spectrum readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller)

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A Wing Inspection Team member monitors a training exercise during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing conducts monthly ATSO exercises to maintain full spectrum readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller)

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Capt. Robert Black, 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, makes pre-flight preparations in the cockpit of a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing conducts monthly ATSO exercises to maintain full spectrum readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller)

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1st Lt. Jacob Carley, 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, makes pre-flight preparations in the cockpit of a C-130J Super Hercules during during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing conducts monthly ATSO exercises to maintain full spectrum readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller)

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A C-130J Super Hercules sits on the flightline during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing continues to forge Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear readiness through monthly ATSO Rodeos. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a CBRN threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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A crew chief from the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ushers in a C-130J Super Hercules into a parking spot during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Two crew chiefs from the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a generator for a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through the monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Two crew chiefs from the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron push a generator toward a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Cargo from a C-130J Super Hercules is unloaded during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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An Airman from the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron helps unload cargo from a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. This exercise is critical in ensuring full spectrum readiness, allowing Airmen to better familiarize themselves with the tools and equipment they will need to use in the case of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear threat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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An Airman from the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron departs from the flightline after unloading cargo from a C-130J Super Hercules during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Airmen form the 19th Airlift Wing conduct an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th AW maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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An aircrew flight equipment Airman from the 19th Operations Support Squadron prepares to simulate decontaminating aircrew during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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An aircrew flight equipment Airman from the 19th Operations Support Squadron prepares a loadmaster from the 41st Airlift Squadron to go through a decontamination line during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The decontamination line allows for any member who has possibly been exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear contaminants, to be safely checked and then decontaminated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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An aircrew flight equipment Airman from the 19th Operations Support Squadron simulates cutting a pilot’s shoelaces during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The 19th Airlift Wing maintains its competitive edge, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, through monthly exercises that test Airmen’s ability to survive and operate in a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Col. John Schutte, 19th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Steven Hart, 19th AW command chief, observe as Airmen from the 19th Operations Support Squadron simulate decontaminating aircrew from the 41st Airlift Squadron during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The decontamination line allows for any member, who has possibly been exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear contaminants, to be safely checked and then decontaminated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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Two aircrew flight equipment Airmen from the 19th Operations Support Squadron prepare a loadmaster from the 41st Airlift Squadron to go through a decontamination line during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) Rodeo at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, July 30, 2020. The decontamination line allows for any member, who has possibly been exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear contaminants, to be safely checked and then decontaminated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jayden Ford)

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