Three miles, no sweat. Four miles, better yet!

United States Army Alaska
Story by Staff Sgt. Matthew Winstead

Date: 06.22.2012
Posted: 06.25.2012 14:50
News ID: 90555
Let them eat cake!

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Army personnel from across Joint base Elmendorf-Richardson gathered together early in the morning hours of June 22 to partake in something that has become a fixture of military celebrations and event punctuation, a group cohesive run!

Units staged themselves outside JBER-R Building 1 and on Pershing Field to begin the troop movement that would be marked with high spirits and motivation as they ran at a brisk 9-minute mile pace toward the main gate and out onto a running route that paralleled the Glenn Highway. Unit leadership proudly displayed their colorful unit guidons and banners with the exception of the units belonging to the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat team, 25th Infantry Division Rear Detachment Command, who’s parent command elements are currently still deployed to Afghanistan. Their elements ran with their colors still cased, a symbol of respect to their brothers and sisters still serving in harm’s way overseas.

At the completion of the run the units returned to their starting point on Pershing Field and further marked the occasion with a short motivational speech from the USARAK commander, Maj. Gen. Michael X. Garrett, and a cake cutting ceremony to recognize USARAKs observance of the celebration of the 237th Army Birthday.