KADENA AIR BASE, Japan - Twenty-one soldiers from 10th Regional Support Group cheered on and provided logistical support for more than 200 registered participants May 18 during the America’s Armed Forces Kids Run. This event is held annually on Kadena Air Base in celebration of Armed Forces Day.
According to Scott Krason, the youth sports and fitness director on Kadena, this event is held every year on air force bases around the world on armed forces day.
“We start from age 5 all the way up to adults, we have different distances for each age group, it is all free, and the Air Force sends us all the shirts,” said Krason.
Brandy Cossey, who works for Kadena Youth Sports and Fitness and Kadena Teen Center, coordinated the volunteer efforts for the Army with her husband, Staff Sgt. Daryl Cossey, operations sergeant for Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 10th Regional Support Group.
“We needed every branch to have 20 or so volunteers and the Army was the first ones to come through, and overall we had 64 volunteers today” said Brandy Cossey.
According to Sgt. Justin Bradley, a mechanic for HHC, 10th RSG, the Army volunteers assisted by making sure the kids got water, run through the finish line and they stay on the track for their safety.
When Sgt. Carolina Ruiz a human resource sergeant for the 10th RSG was asked what made her volunteer for the run, her response was, “Just kids, I love kids.”
Brandy Cossey echoed the same sentiment when she said, “Just seeing the kids run, I love seeing the kids run, I have never worked with kids up until now, but it is awesome. It is awesome to see them get out there and think I can out run mom and dad.”