Air Force Security Forces Plan Some Serious Grunting

As a Marine on standby until the commandant needs a seasoned radio operator, I have great admiration for folks who like to do the grunt thing -- in this case the 4th Security Forces Squadron, which plans a 2,181-mile march from San Antonio to Ground Zero in New York City on the tenth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center.

Air Force security groups who perform military police and base-guard duties around the country will participate in the march, with each group taking a 140-mile leg.

Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton, a spokeswoman for the 4th Security Forces Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, S.C., said the airmen will march with full rucksacks, "up to 45 pounds."

The idea for the ruck march came from Maj. Jim Alves, commander of the squadron, who read about combat controllers and pararescuemen doing a similar march.

"I thought if we applied the same concept on a march from San Antonio to Ground Zero, it would not only be possible, but it would be an outstanding way of remembering those who have given their lives on, and since, 9/11," Alves said.

Ten Air Force security personnel have been killed in combat over the past decade and another 100 wounded, according to Stanton.

Participating units in the march are from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Randolph AFB, Texas; Barksdale AFB, La.; Keesler AFB, Miss.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Tyndal AFB, Fla.; Moody AFB, Ga.; Robins AFB, Ga.; Pope AFB, N.C.; Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; Langley AFB, Va.; Andrews AFB, Md.; Dover AFB, Del.; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.