TACP Airmen remember fallen brothers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candice C. Page
  • Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  Airmen in the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) career field make many sacrifices. Sometimes, it's the ultimate sacrifice. Those TACP members may be gone, but they are not forgotten.

The U.S. Air Force TACP Association recently held their third annual 24-hour run challenge to honor, remember and raise money for their fallen.

"We could have easily done a 5K or 10K run or even a marathon, but we are a very physical oriented career field and we take physical fitness and endurance beyond what the normal Air Force does, so we figured what better way than to go out and run a whole day in remembrance," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Waugh, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Air Support Operations Center (ASOC) Branch TACP training program manager and USAF TACP Association board member.

TACP units across the Air Force also organized a remembrance run for their installations. The numbers across the Air Force totaled 4,447 runners covering a distance of more than 35,820 miles. The funds raised across the field are upwards of $75,000, shattering the association's goal of $50,000.

The money raised from the events will go to families of Airmen like Waugh, who deal with PTSD, injured veterans, or those killed in action.

"Last year only two people ran and this year we extended it out to the entire installation," said Waugh. "We had an outpour of success, 193 runners covered 1,014.65 miles and raised more than $4,500 for the non-profit organization."

During this year's event, Langley AFB had two dedicated individuals that ran continuously for 24-hours.

"I ran 12 hours last year, because I had a technical school roommate of mine that was killed in action in 2003. This year I received news that another roommate I had in technical school was killed, so I decided to do 12 hours for each roommate," said Master Sgt. Nathan English, HQ ACC TACP/ASOC Branch JTAC Standards Evaluation program manager. "Personally, I want to raise awareness and funds for the USAF TACP Association, so they can continue to do the job that they have done for our families. I believe this year was a huge success and [I believe] it will be even more successful next year."

English, who ran a total of 83 miles over the course of 24-hours, ran with April McReynolds, student and Girls on the Run coach, who ran more than 70 miles.

"I saw a video last year named 'Feet to Pavement' and it struck a nerve with me, it touched my heart that someone can run and endure the pain even after the sacrifices they made," said McReynolds. "I also wondered what that type of person was made of and if it existed in others. I was also curious to know how it would feel to complete something that large."

Remembering the fallen Airmen with this 24-hour run is a true testament to the brotherhood that the team shares.

"When I was deployed to Baghdad for 10 ½ months in 2006, I got injured, came home for about five months and deployed again to Baqubah, Iraq," said Waugh. "I had some trouble with PTSD, but luckily guys in the career field took me in, molded me and showed me the way to go. The career field doesn't turn their back on you. We do a really good job of taking care of one another"

TACP's mission is critical in the deployed location. They embed with joint and coalition units such as Army Airborne, Infantry and Rangers to coordinate air strikes from fixed and rotary-winged aircraft, surface-to-surface artillery fire and naval weapons fire.

For more information about the U.S. Air Force TACP Association, visit http://usaftacp.org.

Staff Sgt. Steve Stanley contributed to this article.