CEM for 944th ASTS runs Air Force Marathon

  • Published
  • By AFR Yellow Ribbon Program Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Oh. --  The 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron chief enlisted manager, ran her first half marathon with the Yellow Ribbon team on Sept. 19 as part of the 19th Annual Air Force Marathon.

"This was a great camaraderie-building experience to run this marathon with other Yellow Ribbon representatives I've been working with these past few years," said Chief Master Sgt. Chin Cox. "And I would absolutely do it again."

Cox, who works at Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, as the event manager for the Yellow Ribbon program coordinates 18 base representatives for monthly national conferences. Many of these individuals trained for the full or half-marathon after committing to running eight months ago.

During a Yellow Ribbon conference in January, team captain Maj. Roxy Hambleton, 482nd Fighter Wing Force Support Squadron, military personnel section officer in charge, at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, mentioned how running a full marathon and running the USAF Marathon in particular had been a goal of hers for years. Lt. Col. Lisa Banyasz, IMA to Chief, Health Services Management Division from Robins AFB, agreed to run with her and they recruited 11 other runners from the Yellow Ribbon program.

"It seemed like a great idea eight months ago," said Capt. Jonathan Lester, a C-130 pilot from Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia, and one of three team members to run the full marathon. "I enjoyed the event and the locale but, as of today, I'm not sure if I'll ever do another 26.2 again."

The race began at the steps of the National Museum of the United States Air Force with words from Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, Air Force Materiel Command commander, and a fly over by a U-2 Dragon Lady. Runners who have completed each of the 18 previous Air Force Marathons were honored before a 7:30 a.m. shot from a starter's pistol set thousands of runners in motion.

The marathon, which was launched in 1997 with 4,000 runners, attracted over 15,000 runners who ran everything from the 10-kilometer race, the half marathon, and the full 26.2 mile-marathon.

The last 200 yards of the course was lined with aircraft displays. A light drizzle did not stop the cheering spectators watching as their friends and teammates finished. Each runner was presented a medal at the finish line by a general officer.

Lt. Col. Donice Wright, Air Force Reserve Command headquarters Yellow Ribbon program operations officer, thanked each member of her team who ran the race and congratulated them on their achievement.

"I'm very proud of the staff who pushed themselves to run this race," Wright said. "You can't just show up and run a marathon. You have to train hard for a run of this caliber and our reps did just that."

Yellow Ribbon began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist Reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles. The program promotes the well-being of Reservists and their families by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. Each year, the program trains 7,000 Air Force Reservists and their family members in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon program, or to see if you qualify to attend, contact Master Sgt. Timothy Jasper at 623-856-5528.