From Augusta to Afghanistan: Soldiers Participate in Charity Runs to Support Local Organizations

From Augusta to Afghanistan: Soldiers Participate in Charity Runs to Support Local Organizations

Fort Gordon Signal

By 2nd Lt. Hannah Youngblut

03.17.11

The Augusta Chapter of the Military Intelligence Corps Association (MICA) hosted their second annual 10K Trail Run here March 12.

One hundred and eighty one runners participated in the arduous, 6.2 mile event, which supports the Fort Gordon Fisher House and other organizational activities.

To contribute to the cause, members of MICA currently deployed to Afghanistan also hosted their own 10K run at Bagram Airfield. Fiftyeight deployed Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and civilian contractors participated in the satellite run.

Also part of the event was a 5K Trail Walk, which drew 82 walkers and their families, including a host of well-mannered dogs.

In fiscal year 2010, the Fort Gordon Fisher House hosted over 100 families for an average of 22 days each, maintaining a 97 percent occupancy rate.

A group of runners hit the trails in Fort Gordon’s training areas. The Augusta Chapter of the Military Intelligence Corps Association (MICA) hosted their second annual 10K Trail Run here March 12. Courtesy Photo After the run Lt. Col. J. Michael McNealy, president of the Augusta Chapter of MICA and Commander of the 707th Military Intelligence Battalion, presented a check for $1,000 to Francisco Cruz, the Fort Gordon Fisher House Manager.

“This event was truly a success and can be attributed to the hard work of the MICA committee. I was extremely impressed with the coordination of the Afghanistan run, and am delighted they have chosen the Fort Gordon Fisher House to support again this year,” Cruz said.

Cruz also thanked MICA for the generous donation and stressed that the Fisher House relies on the generosity of donors to provide a “home away from home” for military families.

The overall male winner, Bradley Bandera, and female winner, Carissa Skrivanek finishing with times of 38:52 and 46:52 respectively, were awarded $50 Visa gift cards along with their first place medals. The overall male and female winners in Bagram, Afghanistan, finishing with times of 42:30 and 48:51 respectively, were awarded iPod Shuffles. In addition to the grand prizes, age group winners were awarded gift certificates to local retailers including Fleet Feet Sports and Mellow Mushroom Pizza.

The run at Bagram was met with some challenges, but was completed successfully. Lt. Col. David May, who led the Bagram effort with the help of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Miner, described some of the diffi- culties. “We actually had to modify the route the night before due to de- mining operations, but everything was taken care of and it turned out to be a great event,” said Lt. Col. David May, who led the Bagram run.

The Military Intelligence Corps Association is comprised of intelligence professionals dedicated to maintaining expertise in support of National Defense through scholarly debate, professional develepment, publications and scholarships. The majority of the members in the Augusta Chapter come from the 706th Military Intelligence Group and the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade