By Capt Sara Behr
134 Brigade Support Battlion
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Camp Buehring, Kuwait, played host to the Army 10-Miler satellite run Oct. 2. Hundreds of deployed service members and civilians participated in the run. The official Army 10-Miler is on Oct. 9, in Washington, D.C. The Army 10-Miler was open to all service members deployed to Kuwait. Morale, Welfare and Recreation on Camp Buehring planned and coordinated this year's event.
"The bus left our camp at 3:30am to accommodate the start time and our drive time," said Staff Sgt. Margaret Schliesing from Cambridge, Minn. She rode an hour to participate from a camp in central Kuwait. "Glad I did it. It was an experience." Staff Sgt. Schliesing is deployed with the 134 Brigade Support Battalion, 34th “Red Bulls” Infantry Division from Camp Ripley, Minn.
Registration opened at 3:00 am. Runners from all branches of the service showed up in civilian running gear or military physical fitness uniforms. Staff Sgt. Nicholas Kuffel, A Company, 2-135 Infantry Battalion, deployed to Camp Buehring, showed up to the 10-Miler with ruck, weapon and Army Combat Helmet. When asked why he said, "I wanted to represent my unit." He was surprised he was the only one with a ruck.
Force protection officers and provost marshals officers were out in full force. The figure 8 course took runners down and around Camp Buehring base. Runners fought light wind of 4 mph down before turning west to start the second loop. The roads were blocked and did not open to traffic until the three hour run ended.
Units deployed to Camp Buehring manned water station along the course. G Company, 700 Brigade Support Battalion, attached to 160th Field Artillery, from the Oklahoma National Guard maintained water point 4 and created a festive atmosphere handing out water, cheering on runners and grilling brats.
Kuffel, finished in 2 hours, 53 minutes. "To the last man."