JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A C-130 lands at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The Aircraft was participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing's airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - An Alaska Air National Guard ground crew measures the accuracy of a C-130?s landing at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The crew and the aircraft were participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing?s airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A C-17 drops a training container delivery system at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The Aircraft was participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing's airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A C-130 drops a training container delivery system at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The Aircraft was participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing's airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A training container delivery system (CDS) falls toward a target point at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. CDSs are used in airdrops by military cargo aircraft. During wartime and humanitarian missions, they carry supplies such as food or ammunition to areas that cannot otherwise be reached. This CDS was used by Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing's airlift squadrons participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition. Also participating were the JBER-based 517th and 537th airlift squadrons of the active-duty Air Force. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Two training container delivery systems (CDS) lay next to a target point at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The CDSs are attached to parachutes and are used in airdrops by military cargo aircraft. During wartime and humanitarian missions, they carry supplies such as food or ammunition to areas that cannot otherwise be reached. These CDSs were used by Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing's airlift squadrons participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition. Also participating were the JBER-based 517th and 537th airlift squadrons of the active-duty Air Force. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A C-17 comes in for a landing on the flight line here Aug. 11, 2012. The Aircraft was participating in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing's airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Theulen)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Capt. Allison Snow, a C-17 pilot with the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron measures the accuracy of a C-17 landing on the flight line here Aug. 11, 2012. Snow was a lead judge for aircraft landings in a "Moose Shoot" -- an airdrop and landing competition between the 176th Wing's airlift squadrons as well as their active-duty Air Force associate units, the 517th and 537th airlift squadrons. (National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Theulen)
by Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Theulen
176 Wing Public Affairs
8/12/2012 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A C-130 aircrew from the Alaska Air National Guard's 144 Airlift Squadron won the more-or-less-annual "Moose Shoot" airlift competition at the Malamute Drop Zone here Aug. 11, 2012. The winning aircrew consisted of aircraft commander Lt. Col. Rich Adams, co-pilot Maj. Patrick McBride, navigator Lt. Col. Josh Armstrong, flight engineer Tech. Sgt. James Castagna, and loadmasters Senior Airman Levi Oyster and Senior Airman Connor Murray.
The Moose Shoot is a friendly airdrop and landing competition. C-130 crews from the 144 and the 537 airlift squadrons took part, as did C-17 crews from the 249 and 517 airlift squadrons.
Ten crews participated in the event, which include simulated assault landings, airdrop, and timed take-offs. The Moose Shoot provides competitors with the opportunity to sharpen their wartime skills in a manner that allows for esprit de corps and an element of fun.
Captain Allison Snow, a C-17 pilot with the 249, said this is the first year they've included the C-17s, and brought in active-duty crews as a way to bring the components together in a total force enterprise. Adding the active duty components to the competition allows crews to work together as one force sharing a common goal and mission, she said.
"This victory was a total team effort. The Moose Shoot wouldn't be successful without the efforts of the entire wing." said Lt. Col. Richard Adams. "I'd also like to applaud the Moose Shoot's mission commander, Maj. Kirby Chacon. He did a great job putting all of this together."
*Corrections made on Caption Snow's job title and unit. The article originally said the Snow was a C-130 pilot with the 144. She is a C-17 pilot with the 249.
