Posted on August 7, 2024
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Scorching temperatures in the mid-nineties didn’t stop Fort Leonard Wood’s Marine Corps Detachment from beating out their Soldier, Sailor and Airmen motor transportation counterparts to reclaim the title of ‘King of the Road,’ during the ninth Joint Services Truck Rodeo, hosted by the 58th Transportation Battalion July 31 at Training Area 228.
The winning Marine team included Sgts. Thristan Fulton, Curtis Patton and Eduardo Tapia, and Cpl. Clayton Ainscough.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the team who competed today in the truck rodeo,” said Marine Detachment Commander Col. Robyn Mestemacher, who was on hand to witness the victory. “They rose to the occasion and provided a great example of what hard work and a cohesive team can accomplish and demonstrated what I see across the entire detachment.”
During the competition, teams consisting of four instructors from each branch complete tasks that not only allow them to demonstrate proficiency and skill in their field, but also provide the opportunity for service members to engage with each other across the services.
“This setting creates an ideal environment for bringing together the joint force to showcase the skills of the most proficient truck and trailer operators,” said Lt. Col. Steven Robinette, 58th Transportation Battalion commander.
The events this year included a 90-degree alley dock backing, hosted by the Army; a question mark alley dock backing, hosted by the Marines; a parallel-parking event, hosted by the Navy; and a forward and reverse serpentine, hosted by the Air Force. The group event had service members loading a Humvee on a truck, securing it and unloading it.
“These events test a variety of essential skills critical of operational effectiveness and safety in real-world transport missions, including precision, timing and expert driving,” Robinette said. “Successfully navigating the obstacles in each event requires a high level of proficiency and teamwork.”
This was the third consecutive rodeo and second win for Ainscough, who credited teamwork for this year’s win.
“The camaraderie between the four of us motivated each one of us through it,” he said.
Patton, a first-time competitor, agreed, and said, despite some initial hesitation, he enjoyed himself.
“I wasn’t really looking forward to it, but it turned out to be a really good time,” he said. “Even as different branches competing against each other, there’s still that mutual brotherhood between us.”
Mestemacher credited the 58th Transportation Battalion for setting the conditions for the branches to train alongside each other through the competition.
“They set the conditions to strengthen esprit de corps and camaraderie in a unique way that also allowed Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, our civilian teammates and families to engage, and I can’t underscore how important that is for the value in the training,” she said. “Training together and competing against each other in the way the teams did today allows us all an opportunity to see the best in each other and to sow seeds of trust across the services. It was a well-executed event that reinforced the importance of having a strong joint team — not just on the training field, but also when we go in to fight.”
The Marine Corps will hold onto the trophy until they battle to keep it at next year’s event, and Ainscough had some advice for anyone hoping to compete in the future.
“You have to be hungry for it, and you have to want to win,” he said. “We took it all today. We all wanted it, so we came and got it.”
