‘It’s only three miles!’

By Eric PilgrimNovember 22, 2021

Check out all the images of this event at the official Flickr page album HERE.

Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd Army Reserve Readiness Training Center deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march

Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd ARRTC deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march
Master Sgt. Chi Ai Thi Truong, chief instructor of ARAC, 83rd U.S. Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, raises her hands in celebration of being the first female across the finish line at the 3rd annual 83rd ARRTC holiday ruck march food drive Nov. 19, 2021. Soldiers and participating civilian employees and family members walked and ran the three-mile path, carrying the food in ruck sacks that they donated to Feeding America afterward. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Several members of 83rd U.S. Army Reserve Readiness Training Center took to Natcher Physical Fitness Center’s one-mile track at Fort Knox Nov. 19 to continue what has become a tradition for them.

For the third year in a row, 83rd ran and ruck marched a couple thousand pounds of canned and boxed food for three miles around the track to celebrate giving back to the surrounding community in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd ARRTC deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers warm up with some exercises prior to the start of the three-mile ruck march. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd ARRTC deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Though there was a spirit of competition in the air, many took time to smile, laugh and tease each other a little as they marched around the one-mile track next to Natcher Physical Fitness Center. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd ARRTC deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Participants were encouraged to stay hydrated throughout the event. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

In keeping with the tradition, their commander, Col. Joseph Thomas Jr., issued a challenge — carry more weight than him, or cross the finish line ahead of him, and get a three-day pass. Thomas told the crowd before the march that he was packing probably about 65-plus pounds of weight.

Two claimed the honors of heaviest rucks after the unit’s weigh-in at Skidgel Hall later: Master Sgt. Isaac Haugen, senior instructor, at 122 pounds; and Sgt. 1st Class Yadira Garcia Ocasio, senior instructor, at 82.8 pounds. Virtually everyone crossed the finish line ahead of Thomas.

The total weight carried by the 83rd Soldiers, participating civilian employees and families was 2,102.5 pounds. After the ruck march, the food was donated to Feeding America.

Soldiers, civilians and families of 83rd ARRTC deliver fun, food at 3rd annual holiday ruck march
(Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL