Photo By Alexandra Shea | A cannon salute battery from Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, fire a volley for...... read more read more
Subscribe
Fort Jackson Soldiers, trainees and leadership celebrate the holiday season and start of Victory Block Leave with an early morning Holiday Run across the installation. Christmas tunes set to rock and electronica music blared as participants shouted, sang cadence and high-fived the top installation leadership teams.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Capt. William Hollis, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, and Aide-de-Camp. “It always motivates me.”
As the cannon rang out in the still morning air, the flag was raised for reveille near the installation’s headquarters building. Dressed in blue sweatshirts, black Army physical fitness shorts and Santa hats, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson Commander, Brig. Gen. Milford “Beags” Beagle, Jr., Post Command Sgt. Maj. Jerimiah Gan and their staff took to Marion Avenue on foot to begin the 3.2 mile fun run to celebrate the holiday season.
Along the route various battalions stood in neat rows with their guidon as Beagle and Gan ran through the middle. As they passed, the battalions took up the rear of the formation and continued along the route. Within 20 minutes, Soldiers and trainees from across the installation were running together shouting motivational words, battalion mottos and singing cadence.
As the long snake of runners rounded the corner of Marion Avenue and Johnson Street, Beagle and Gan stopped on the side of the route under a single lamp post. They stood side-by-side and shouted to the passing runners while offering high-fives.
“You got this,” Beagle shouted as he disappeared from sight for a moment as trainees crowded around him to get their chance to high-five the highest ranking post official.
“Lookin’ good,” Gan shouted as a formation of Soldiers strode by shouting their battalion motto over the music that blared from behind.
The holiday run will be the last for 2019 as trainees and Soldiers eagerly prepare for Victory Block Leave. Most will travel to their Family homes to celebrate the holidays while some will remain on the installation. Those who remain will be able to enjoy a variety of activities such as ice skating, movies, shopping and other outings to celebrate the holidays and get well-earned rest and relaxation.
“You see everyone having fun and starting the holidays right,” Hollis said. “It’s about Family right? This is a Family and a team. I am pretty hyped.”
While the holiday run may be the last of the 2019 year, Beagle encouraged all Soldiers, trainees, civilians and their Families to remain vigilant in their personal safety so they may return healthy and ready to go in the New Year. “There’s no team without you,” he said. “Happy holidays.”
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2019 10:59 |
| Story ID: | 356454 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Jackson run kicks off holiday season, by Alexandra Shea, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
