Special ops defenders on the road for 9/11 memorial march

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe McFadden
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) --  Ten years after the tragic events of 9/11, four 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron Airmen picked up their packs July 28 to participate in the Ruck March to Remember.

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Dance, the NCO in charge of supply; Tech. Sgt. Chad Reemtsma, the NCO in charge of physical security; Staff Sgt. Michael McQuiggin, a special operations flyaway security team leader; and Senior Airman Allen Buning, a special operations flyaway security team member, embarked on a 142-mile trek through two Southern states and finished Aug. 1.

The total march includes members from 23 security forces squadrons from bases along the 2,181-mile route. The march started July 12 at the Security Forces Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and is projected to conclude Sept. 11 at Ground Zero in New York City.

The memorial march honors the memory of the more than 6,000 service members who have lost their lives in the last decade.

"Some days can break you down, but to do something like this makes me proud," Dance said. "When you realize how many people have made the ultimate sacrifice, it's important we don't forget them. Walking a little bit is not really that big of a deal when compared to what they've done."

These defenders accepted the march's guidon from 14th SFS members from Columbus AFB, Miss., July 28. Their route spans five days and they are only able to rest during hours of darkness and extreme weather. At least one defender will be marching at a time, leaving one to drive their car as the other two either rest or march along with them.

And when they're not resting or visiting with a local community, they are expected to maintain a 20-minute mile pace in order to keep to the schedule.

"If someone's feeling they can't (continue), we're going to pick it up for them," McQuiggin said. "We're going to try to get as far as we can each day."

The preparation process is something that came naturally to the team as they did physical training five times a week and often camped out in the field, McQuiggin said. They also did 10-mile marches while carrying 40-50 pounds of gear.

In addition to carrying their tents, uniforms, medical supplies and two guidons, the team will display a banner emblazoned with "Team Hurlburt" and the names of the supporters who helped make the trip possible.

Dance said the team name shows it is more than the sum of his fellow marchers.

"Obviously security forces members are participating in this march, but knowing we're part of (Air Force Special Operations Command) is why we decided to name this 'Team Hurlburt ' as opposed to just the 1st SOSFS," Dance said. "We know that we're more than just a squadron. We're a part of a bigger team, and we wanted to represent the base as a whole."

McQuiggin emphasized that the fallen were not the only members to make a sacrifice throughout the last decade since 9/11.

"Everyone has made sacrifices, especially the family members," McQuiggin said. "Some have gone through deployments when their loved ones worked 12- or 15-hour days, seven days a week away from home. They've been through months and years of being apart, sometimes during their children's births and birthdays. As security forces, we're a large career field at every base. We all have something to offer."

Reemtsma urged others to remember the sacrifices of all fallen defenders, including military working dogs that have died in the line of duty.

"That's a part of the bigger picture that this march is all about," said Reemtsma, a former MWD handler. "It's the right thing to do, and it's pretty special to be a part of it."

McQuiggin said it was a huge endeavor to coordinate the stops along the route, but the generosity from other bases and the civilian community was overwhelming.

"I saw pictures of a guy holding an umbrella over one of the ruck marchers while it was pouring down rain," he said. "I saw others of people standing on front lawns waving American flags, and Facebook posts by marchers saying 'Thanks to everyone who came by.' Little simple things like that are very appreciated."

The defender's portion of the journey will end when they pass the guidon to the 325th SFS team from Tyndall AFB, Fla., Aug. 1.

Although they had less than three weeks to prepare for the march, the team members said the amount of time didn't hinder them from giving their best effort.

"This is what AFSOC does," McQuiggin said. "The fact that we didn't have that much time or as much resources as other bases are all the more reason why we wanted to succeed."

For more information and to track the march's progress, visit their Facebook or YouTube pages or on Twitter at @SFRUCKMARCH.