Turkey Shoot: Squadrons battle for bragging rights

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaylee Clark and Senior Airman Harry Brexel
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  
Airmen from the 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and 62nd Airlift Squadron squared off for a "Turkey Shoot" competition Aug. 20 testing their airdrop expertise in a series of competition events.

Maj. Dean Brown, 714th Training Squadron student affairs flight commander, pilots a Super Herk during the Turkey Shoot competition Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The aircrews showed off their skills, while trying to outscore their opponents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)

Maj. Dean Brown, 714th Training Squadron student affairs flight commander, pilots a Super Herk during the Turkey Shoot competition Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The aircrews showed off their skills, while trying to outscore their opponents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)
The annual local combat airlift pitted the rivals against one another in timed events including several airdrops, assault landings and the loading of Humvees. Time of arrival, drop scores and landing scores were calculated to determine an overall a winner.  Competing aircrews were given details about the event approximately 24 hours prior to the start.

The 62nd AS took the award for the best time of arrival and time on-target. The 48th AS achieved closest assault landing on target and the fastest loading of a Humvee. The 714th TRS landed the best drop score.

Loadmasters from the 48th Airlift Squadron strap down a water barrel container delivery system load Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and the 62nd Airlift Squadron competed in the Turkey Shoot competition for base bragging rights. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)

Loadmasters from the 48th Airlift Squadron strap down a water barrel container delivery system load Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and the 62nd Airlift Squadron competed in the Turkey Shoot competition for base bragging rights. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)
"Time to targets and on-call airdrops to a drop zone are things we are doing in real world operations like Africa or Afghanistan," said Maj. Brad Buinicky, 48th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations, a Turkey Shoot umpire.  "The real spirit of these competitions is a desire for us to not only develop ourselves, but develop our community as well.

A water barrel container delivery system load falls to the ground after being dropped from a C-130J Aug. 20, 2015, at the All-American Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Ark. Airmen from three 314th Airlift Wing squadrons competed in multiple events to determine who had superior combat airlift capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Harry Brexel/Released)

A water barrel container delivery system load falls to the ground after being dropped from a C-130J Aug. 20, 2015, at the All-American Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Ark. Airmen from three 314th Airlift Wing squadrons competed in multiple events to determine who had superior combat airlift capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Harry Brexel/Released)
I thought that there was very good grading criteria [for this event], because these things matter in real-world operations," he said.
The initial air drop on the agenda was over the Fort Chaffee Drop Zone and then crews flew to the All-American Landing Zone/Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

An umpire was placed on each aircraft with the crewmembers to grade their performances. Level of experience dictates the umpire selection, their judgement is used to oversee operations.

The 48th AS took home bragging rights while the 62nd AS and 714th TRS have their sights set toward next year's victory.  

Turkey Shoot: Squadrons battle for bragging rights

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaylee Clark and Senior Airman Harry Brexel
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  
Airmen from the 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and 62nd Airlift Squadron squared off for a "Turkey Shoot" competition Aug. 20 testing their airdrop expertise in a series of competition events.

Maj. Dean Brown, 714th Training Squadron student affairs flight commander, pilots a Super Herk during the Turkey Shoot competition Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The aircrews showed off their skills, while trying to outscore their opponents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)

Maj. Dean Brown, 714th Training Squadron student affairs flight commander, pilots a Super Herk during the Turkey Shoot competition Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The aircrews showed off their skills, while trying to outscore their opponents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)
The annual local combat airlift pitted the rivals against one another in timed events including several airdrops, assault landings and the loading of Humvees. Time of arrival, drop scores and landing scores were calculated to determine an overall a winner.  Competing aircrews were given details about the event approximately 24 hours prior to the start.

The 62nd AS took the award for the best time of arrival and time on-target. The 48th AS achieved closest assault landing on target and the fastest loading of a Humvee. The 714th TRS landed the best drop score.

Loadmasters from the 48th Airlift Squadron strap down a water barrel container delivery system load Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and the 62nd Airlift Squadron competed in the Turkey Shoot competition for base bragging rights. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)

Loadmasters from the 48th Airlift Squadron strap down a water barrel container delivery system load Aug. 20, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 714th Training Squadron, 48th Airlift Squadron and the 62nd Airlift Squadron competed in the Turkey Shoot competition for base bragging rights. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaylee Clark/ Released)
"Time to targets and on-call airdrops to a drop zone are things we are doing in real world operations like Africa or Afghanistan," said Maj. Brad Buinicky, 48th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations, a Turkey Shoot umpire.  "The real spirit of these competitions is a desire for us to not only develop ourselves, but develop our community as well.

A water barrel container delivery system load falls to the ground after being dropped from a C-130J Aug. 20, 2015, at the All-American Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Ark. Airmen from three 314th Airlift Wing squadrons competed in multiple events to determine who had superior combat airlift capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Harry Brexel/Released)

A water barrel container delivery system load falls to the ground after being dropped from a C-130J Aug. 20, 2015, at the All-American Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Ark. Airmen from three 314th Airlift Wing squadrons competed in multiple events to determine who had superior combat airlift capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Harry Brexel/Released)
I thought that there was very good grading criteria [for this event], because these things matter in real-world operations," he said.
The initial air drop on the agenda was over the Fort Chaffee Drop Zone and then crews flew to the All-American Landing Zone/Drop Zone at Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

An umpire was placed on each aircraft with the crewmembers to grade their performances. Level of experience dictates the umpire selection, their judgement is used to oversee operations.

The 48th AS took home bragging rights while the 62nd AS and 714th TRS have their sights set toward next year's victory.