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SF members begin march to Ground Zero

  • Published
  • By Mike Joseph
  • 502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Members of the Joint Base San Antonio Security Forces community comprised the kickoff leg of a 2,181-mile ruck march that started Tuesday morning at Lackland and ends Sept. 11 at Ground Zero in New York City.

Participants from installations across the country will continue the daily "Ruck March to Remember," which eventually ends on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Airmen from four units on Lackland - headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center, 802nd Security Forces Squadron, 149th Fighter Wing, and the 37th Training Wing - and the 902nd SFS at Randolph comprise the JBSA team.

"The march honors security forces and servicemembers who have fallen supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Tech. Sgt. Mark Latimer, a JBSA team organizer from headquarters AFSFC.

About 20 members from JBSA units originally agreed to participate in the march. But the word spread quickly Tuesday, Latimer said, and "more Airmen joined the walk."

Each JBSA team member has volunteered off-duty time to participate, and any expenses were paid by them, he said.

The Lackland portion of the journey culminates Saturday in La Grange, about 148 miles from Lackland. Airmen from the 2nd SFS, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are scheduled to take possession of the Defensor Fortis guidon from the JBSA contingent at noon.

With Airmen carrying 50-lb. ruck sacks, and marching in temperatures near 100 degrees with high humidity, organizers took precautions by calling for rotating shifts and a 15-minute mile pace.

"The marchers will be well hydrated," said Latimer, "plus we have escort and trail vehicles for safety and emergencies."

The JBSA team will average about 35 miles on the first three days, and 25 miles on Friday. The final 15-plus miles will be completed by noon Saturday.

Once each day's mileage goal is reached, the Airmen return to San Antonio. They pick up where they left off early the next morning.

The "Ruck March to Remember" originated in late 2010. Maj. Jim Alves, 4th SFS commander at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., suggested the march after reading how combat controllers and pararescuemen walked 800-plus miles from Lackland to Hurlburt Field, Fla., in honor of fallen special tactics Airmen.

"I thought if we applied the same concept on a march from San Antonio to Ground Zero, it would not only be possible, but it would be an outstanding way of remembering those who have given their lives on, and since, 9/11," Alves said.

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Broughman, overall march coordinator from the 4th SFS, said the march is a time for reflection on how Sept. 11 changed their career field, their lives and a nation.

"We're doing it to reflect on . . . the time we've been away from our loved ones due to deployments, the effects those deployments have had on each person, and ultimately to remember the defenders who lost their lives by enemy hands since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom," Broughman said.

Ten security forces Airmen have been killed and more than 100 wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan combat operations, since 9/11.

In addition to JBSA and Barksdale, other participating bases in the 148-mile legs include Keesler AFB, Miss.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Moody AFB, Ga.; Robins AFB, Ga.; Pope AFB, N.C.; Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; Langley AFB, Va.; Andrews AFB, Md.; Dover AFB, Del.; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and the New York Air National Guard.

The marching defenders can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Security-Forces-911-Ruck-March-to-Remember/170407923010504, YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/911RuckMarch and Twitter at @SFRUCKMARCH.

(Contributing sources: 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Defense Media Activity)