Photo By Spc. William Espinosa | U.S. Army troops march during the 250 mile ruck march commemorating the 250th U.S....... read more read more
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CAMP ROBERTS, Calif. - Under the golden California sun and across miles of rugged terrain, U.S. Army Soldiers and civilians participated in a monumental 250 mile ruck march held from May 7 to May 11, 2025. Beginning at Camp Roberts and concluding at Camp Parks in Dublin, Calif., the march was more than a test of endurance, it was a tribute to the strength, unity, and legacy of the U.S. Army as a whole.
Organized by the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett, the event commemorated the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. Over five grueling days, participants carried rucksacks through valleys, hills, and towns, symbolizing the resilience and unwavering commitment of the nation’s Soldiers.
“250 years, 250 miles. A 24 hour continuous, multi-component, team driven event across four installations,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Hartshorn, Camp Roberts deputy commander, California Army National Guard, during the march’s opening ceremony. “As a team, we are showing that we are twice the citizen, always ready, always there, and inspiring a nation to be all you can be.”
Teams included members from the California Army National Guard, Active Duty, and Army Reserve components, as well as civilians and local volunteers. The ruck march was divided into 50 “legs,” each spanning five miles, allowing participants to complete multiple legs if they chose to do so.
As the sun rose at the start of the ruck march, Soldiers took turns carrying the U.S. Army colors from beginning to end. This flag, unveiled on June 14, 1956, represents the Army’s long standing legacy. Its white field holds the blue Department of the Army seal, a symbol of strength and defense, set above a scarlet scroll embroidered with “United States Army” in white. Beneath it, the year “1775” stands in blue, marking the birth of the nation's oldest military branch. Alongside the flag, a binder weighing down the Soldiers’ rucks contained the names of more than 500,000 fallen service members “to emphasize the weight of our chosen profession,” Hartshorn explained. Both the flag and the binder were carried every step of the 250 mile journey.
The ruck march began at dawn at Camp Roberts, with many applauding the eight participants in the first leg as they set off. With the Army colors swaying high on the shoulder of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Monk, Soldiers and civilians alike smiled with determination, knowing they were marching for a unique milestone in U.S. Army history.
Participants expressed a sense of duty and pride in joining the effort, with many highlighting the rare opportunity to work alongside members of other Army components outside of a deployment overseas.
“I think it's great working together as a team,” said Master Sgt. Yolanda Gonzalez, 351st Civil Affairs Command, Army Reserve. “We don’t really get to work with each other outside of mobilization. I’m in the Army Reserve, and the only time I usually work with active duty or the Guard is during deployments. So doing something like this at home is really great.”
1st Sgt. Bessy Magarin of the Intel and Sustainment Company, California Army National Guard, shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing the morale and motivation of the Soldiers she rucked with.
“The camaraderie was really cool. There were people in high spirits, tired, sweating, and still happy. Being surrounded by all that motivation and positivity was just really, really nice and a good experience.”
Magarin took part in leg 8 of the ruck march, finishing her stretch at Fort Hunter Liggett. There, she helped pass the U.S. Army colors to the next group of participants in leg 9, made up mostly of Army Reservists. As the transition took place, a small ceremony honored those who had completed their leg and encouraged those preparing to continue. Around 9:30 p.m., with red headlamps casting a steady glow through the darkness, Soldiers from the 357th and 341st Military Police Companies, joined by civilian contractors, stepped off with pride and determination, their silhouettes marching into the night.
The journey came to a close on the morning of May 11, 2025, at Camp Parks. It marked the end of a historic march, one that paid tribute to the Army’s past, celebrated its present, and lit the path for its future. Spanning 250 years of service across the National Guard, Army Reserve, and Active Duty, the spirit of the American Soldier marched forward.
From generation to generation, the legacy endures in service of freedom. This we’ll defend.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2025 13:49 |
| Story ID: | 499185 |
| Location: | CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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