Servicemembers run with robots for wounded warriors, qualify for the Army Ten-Miler

By Lori Grein, PEO Ground Combat Systems Public Affairs OfficerJune 15, 2011

Military runs to support the Wounded Warrior Project
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Winners of the Detroit Arsenal Men's Army Ten-Miler Qualification
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Winner of the Detroit Arsenal Women's Army Ten-Miler Qualification
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Robots Greet the Runners
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SELFRIDGE, Mich., June 15, 2011 -- Raising more than $2,500 for the Wounded Warrior Project, nearly 130 people from all branches of service rallied together to support the 2011 Robot Trot, Friday, June 10, 2011.

The Robot Trot, championed by the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office, or RS JPO, and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, is an annual event which provides servicemembers and civilian employees, and and their families with an opportunity to participate in a 5K walk/run.

“The event was well received by the community at large with runners braving the cool morning air to show their support for the Wounded Warrior Project,” Lt. Col. Dave Thompson, project manager, RS JPO, said.

“The Wounded Warrior Project does so much to help our men and women in uniform who have been injured in combat. This is our small contribution to help raise awareness for the cause and support our fellow teammates.”

But there are additional reasons that motivate the runners.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Joseph Hurley, Stryker Brigade Combat Team PMO systems engineer, said.

His wife, Pat, agreed.

“We had so much fun last year that we came back again this year.”

Accompanying the Hurleys was Pat’s sister, Lynda Miller, and their daughter Caitlyn.

Karen Carnago, construction team leader for the U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit Arsenal Directorate of Public Works, said that in addition to supporting our troops, she likes the fact that she gets to come out for some exercise and stay in shape.

For the past two years, the Robot Trot has been held on the same morning as a qualifier run for the Army Ten-Miler. The top two male and top two female winners from this qualifying run travel to as a team Washington, D.C., representing the Detroit Arsenal.

Robots, holding a large purple ribbon, greeted the winners of both the Robot Trot and the Army Ten-Miler qualification run at the finish line.

With a time of 1:08:53, Linda Sawvell was awarded first place in the women’s category for the Army Ten-Miler qualification. Sawvell, an Integrated Logistics Support Center workforce development supervisor, moved to Michigan just one week ago transferring from Rock Island, Ill., as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure.

Ashley Wagner, an employee of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team PMO came in second place.

Maj. Anthony Lee, U.S. Army acquisition officer for the Ground Combat Vehicle PMO, was awarded first place in the men’s category for the Army Ten-Miler qualification with a time of 1:03:41.

Devin Kliebert, TACOM LCMC Army Contracting Center, came in second place.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Health News

Army Ten-Miler

Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)

Wounded Warrior Project