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Team Pope works to make Rodeo success

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Rodeo 2000 marks the competition's return to Pope Air Force Base, N.C., for the first time since 1992. Getting Pope ready for the largest Rodeo ever after an eight-year hiatus was no small feat and required a total team effort.

"Rodeo is a huge program," said Don Fellers, Rodeo 2000 director of support. It has changed so much since it started and has grown into a monster. The biggest challenge facing the Rodeo 2000 staff was "just trying to get our arms around this beast," said Fellers. "People don't realize what all you have to cover until you start working it day-to-day."

According to Fellers, the success of the Rodeo 2000 staff required the support of everyone from Maj. Gen. Silas "Si" Johnson, Rodeo 2000 commander, to the most junior airman here at Pope.

"When we first sat down with General Johnson, we knew right from the get-go what the attitude was going to be like," said Fellers. Johnson set the tone for an upbeat, hard-working atmosphere with no finger pointing, Fellers added.

The 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron has had their hands in nearly every Rodeo project, said Fellers. "They are can-do folks who make it happen and are truly loved for their contribution to Rodeo 2000."

Some of the larger Rodeo projects for the 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron included getting Hangar 6, Building 900 and the visiting officer quarters ready, said 2nd Lt. Michael Gore, Rodeo 2000 civil engineer project officer. Dodge City set up and several very tedious landscaping and general base appearance projects were also accomplished with the help of Air Force Reserve units, Air National Guard units and Pope volunteers.

"Hosting Rodeo is important for Pope because this is where it started and a lot of people identify Rodeo with Pope," said Fellers. "It's one of those things that puts us on the map. Bringing Rodeo back to Pope back us the big-time competitors we've always known we were and just reinforces how well we do our mission."

After all the trophies have been handed out and everybody's gone, there's still a lot of work to do, according to Fellers. Organizing all the data for continuity is a very important step that must be done after Rodeo. This will make it much easier to prepare for the next Rodeo.

From upgrades in the fitness center to landscaping around base, the people who will benefit in the long run are the Pope community. "When you drive through the gate and you see the split-railing fencing, and all the flower beds and new signs, it just makes you say 'what a great place to work,' and it makes you fell good about the mission," said Fellers.

One of the big success stories for the Rodeo 2000 staff is their ability to step back, look at the big picture, and work together as a team, said Fellers. "What's great about this staff is their ability to stop, recover, and make things work well once we identify a potential Murphy [Murphy's law]. We want to keep Murphy out. We're a family. That's what makes Pope unique - great people, great assignment - we're a family." (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).

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