Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Donaldson | Airmen from the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing run at the start of the...... read more read more
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FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. — Thirty-four Airmen from the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing braved freezing temperatures for their “Run, Run, Rudolph” 5K at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, Dec. 5.
Staff Sgt. Darrol Anderson, the sports program manager for the 106th Force Support Squadron Services Flight and the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of recreation, said the team wanted to highlight the full scope of its mission.
“Our team manages much more than food services; we also support mortuary affairs, fitness and recreation programs that build morale across the wing,” Anderson said. “The idea for the holiday run started months ago when Tech. Sgt. Brandy Schaff and I talked about bringing back our traditional 5K events as a way to build morale and highlight Services’ role in fitness and resilience.”
Tech. Sgt. Brandy Schaff, the 106th FSS fitness team NCOIC, partnered with Anderson to shape the event around both readiness and participation.
Anderson said their collaboration helped refine the course, safety considerations and incentives.
“Because of time constraints, we shifted from a ‘Turkey Trot’ to the ‘Run, Run, Rudolph’ run, but the mission stayed the same: create a fun, fitness-focused event that brings Airmen together,” he said. “We knew Airmen love organized runs and T-shirts, so we built the event around those incentives to maximize participation and give people something they would be proud to wear.”
Among the 34 participants, Senior Airman Matthew Taylor, a firefighter with the 106th Rescue Wing, was first to cross the finish line.
“I try to run at least three days a week, and I have run this route a few times, so I knew where I could safely increase my pace,” Taylor said. “I knew it was going to be cold and I had not run yet this week, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to get a good run in. Now I cannot feel my lips, but it was worth it.”
Lt. Col. William Robesch, 106th Rescue Wing chief of safety, said the event supported both morale and readiness objectives.
“Events like this are a great way to build camaraderie, and as someone who enjoys running, it was a fun way to bring people together,” Robesch said. “It definitely boosted morale for those who participated, and with the [Department of War’s] emphasis on fitness, events like this help raise the base’s overall physical readiness.”
Robesch praised the Services Flight for organizing what he called the best 5K the base has held.
Beyond food operations, Airmen in the Services Flight support deployment readiness, search and recovery, mortuary affairs, honor guard operations, fitness programs, personal training, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities.
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft and the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter. The wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, supporting domestic and overseas missions.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2025 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 553653 |
| Location: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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