SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, sponsored by Air Mobility Command officials, is set to take place July 24 to 29 at McChord Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Rodeo is a readiness competition that "focuses on improving our worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities," AMC officials said.

More than 150 teams and 3,000 people from the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, as well as allied nations, are expected to participate.

Rodeo began in October 1956, history shows. At that time, officials from 13 troop carrier wings from Continental Air Command, predecessor to Air Force Reserve Command, sent crews to participate in a "Reserve Troop Carrier Rodeo" at Bakalar Air Force Base, Ind. The first airdrop competition for units of the active-duty force occurred in April 1962, when Military Air Transport Service officials held a MATS-wide Rodeo at Scott AFB.

The 1962 Rodeo competition was a combat skills competition designed to develop and improve techniques and procedures while enhancing air mobility operations and promoting esprit de corps.

In 1979, Rodeo was expanded to include international air mobility partners.

"Rodeo tests the flight and ground skills of aircrews as well as the related skills of special tactics, security forces, aerial port operations, aeromedical evacuation and maintenance team members," the competition fact sheet states. "It also provides valuable joint and combined training for all participants."

The last Rodeo competition took place in July 2009 at McChord AFB.