Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Borunda | Arizona Guardsmen and civilians run and walk in to the finish of the 2nd Annual Ruck...... read more read more
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PHOENIX – With the sun still hidden below the eastern horizon, Arizona guardsmen prepared tables, check-in lists and traffic cones for the second annual Ruck For Life, a three-mile ruck march at Papago Park Military Reservation to promote suicide prevention and awareness. Everything looked like a normal military set up for an event of this type, except for the blank puzzle pieces and colored markers strewn on one table.
Airmen, civilians and family members signed in and made their way to the puzzle piece table. They wrote the names of those they’ve known who have sadly taken their own lives on the pieces.
As the nearly 80 event participants filed out of the 52nd Street Armory, backpacks filled with canned goods to donate to service members in need, they took a puzzle piece from the table, almost one for every participant. The lives represented by each puzzle piece is what they would take out on that ruck march – those names in their heads and in their hearts.
“It’s something that allows us to go out there and think to yourself and remember those who we have lost to suicide,” said Army 1st Lt. Kimberly Frazier, Suicide Prevention program manager for the Arizona National Guard.
One of the Soldiers rucking was Army Sgt. Nicole Parrack, a military police woman. She stood with her fellow guardsmen and civilians as the guest speaker, Andrew Jones, delivered his comments shortly before stepping off to start the ruck.
“Our goal here, our mission here is to always choose life,” Jones said. “Don’t be afraid to ask about suicide. If you feel like someone is struggling, if you feel like someone needs that, ask them.”
But asking isn’t where the work ends, Jones said. “That’s when you take them by the hand and you guide them, you help them – they are your brother, your sister – you help them.”
The message of outreach underlined the event. Guardsmen of all ranks greeted and got to know one another. Simply starting a conversation like that can save a life.
“I heard a lot of talk out there about someone they knew,” Parrack said. “I decided to do the Ruck For Life because I’ve [known] friends and some Soldiers who have taken their lives, and I think it’s important that we let our Soldiers, families and friends know that there is an answer and there is a way to find help and suicide is really not the answer.”
The impact of a friend, family member or coworker can have a multitude of effects on those left behind, an endless ripple of reactions that can be used for good.
“It was sad but it was also a wake-up call, we need to start paying attention to the people around us,” Parrack said. “They were people that were close to us, and we had no idea it was coming.”
For some, the hardest action is simply asking for help. Knowing that help is available with one call or text can make a huge difference.
“For soldiers out there who might need help, just ask,” Frazier said. “I know that’s a hard step, to actually be able to ask someone for help, but that’s the first step. People are going to be there to help you.”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2015 14:43 |
| Story ID: | 179521 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ruck For Life: Decide to live and let go of the pain, by SFC Adrian Borunda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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