Running with the Wing Published Feb. 17, 2010 By Danny Bazzell Edwards Civ/Mil Support Group Vice President EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A couple weeks ago I volunteered to join the 412th Test Wing on their monthly run Feb.1. Airmen, both officer and enlisted that make up the 412th TW, take part in a 5-kilometer run down the flightline. There is the obvious physical training aspect to this run, but I feel it goes even beyond that. It is an exercise that not only builds bodies but also builds character, camaraderie, teamwork and exemplifies the Wingman; someone who helps you and encourages you when you need it most and won't leave you when the chips are down. On the morning of the run I got up at 5 a.m. and had my usual pre-run oatmeal, banana and cup of coffee before I headed out the door for the base as ready as I was going to be for this event. Having the luxury of an insulated garage I didn't notice the cold and left the house in only my running shorts, long sleeve running shirt and shoes. Once I got to the formation area and got out of my car I realized quickly that at 30 degrees, it was cold outside! That was to be short-lived however. The welcome I received from the troops was great and at no time did I feel like an outsider; in fact many people greeted me as if they had known me for years. Of course it could have been simply offerings of sympathy for me since they undoubtedly knew what the morning had in store for me. We all formed up according to the various units that make up the 412thTest Wing and I estimate there must have been upwards of 300 of us out on the tarmac in the cold, first light of dawn. The formation was called to attention and instantly I found myself taken back 27 years; me back in uniform, standing at attention on yet another cold military morning waiting to do PT. It was definitely a nostalgic moment for me. We were put through some stretching exercises and then came the calisthenics. As I dropped to the frozen ground to I thought to myself "Pushups? I don't do pushups!" and yet there I was counting off twenty, four-count pushups to get warmed up. After the warm-up and much to my surprise I was called up to the front and given my "place of honor" alongside Col. Colin Miller, 412th Operations Group commander, Col. Terry Luallen, USAF Test Pilot School commandant, and Col. Steven Weld, 412th Test Management Group commander. Out in front, carrying the guidon or standard of the 412th TW and setting the pace for this run was Chief Master Sgt. Mark Brejcha, 412th TW command chief master sergeant. It seemed that we were to run at the head of the formation and lead the way. Behind us were those 300 Airmen, all decked out in matching Air Force running suits and ready to run. The chief gave the command and the entire formation began moving as only a military formation can. Next came the raising of the standard as the chief's commanding voice boomed across the flight line "double time...ho!" and off we went. There was something about running down the flightline with this group of dedicated patriots that made this a special run for me. Off to our left was a giant C-17 cargo plane sitting on the tarmac. Further on an even larger behemoth awaited; the venerable "BUFF" the B-52. The calm quiet of the morning was now replaced by the sound of a large force of men and women moving as one. The chief set a good pace and I knew immediately that this was definitely going to be a faster pace than I normally run and I began to have some doubt that I'd make it the entire way but behind me, the steady sound of all those feet hitting the pavement gave me encouragement (ok, call it fear) to keep it steady, breathe and put one foot in front of the other. We reached the main flightline, turned and began heading west where we soon passed a gleaming SR-71 Blackbird, now retired and sitting in all its former glory awaiting a trip to the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum. My breathing was a bit irregular as it always is in the first mile before I get settled into a rhythm but I was holding my own. Up ahead a truck with a couple of Security Forces policemen, always on guard, monitored the flightline as we trudged on by. Just past them a set of massive hangar doors were slowly opening to expose an RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV waiting to be pulled out and take flight. Continuing on, I finally settled into my groove and was keeping pace with the chief. I was amazed at how casually the chief and colonels were able to carry on conversations while we were running. It may have been a conversational pace for them, but not for me. I was able to answer in 4 or 5 word phrases in between the effort of sucking down mass quantities of air into my lungs, but not much more. Next up on my running tour this morning were the helicopters of the United States Marine Corps, Marine Aircraft Group 41 Detachment A. On my left were several of the big double rotor helicopters one of which had its APU idling while the crew did preflight checks in preparation for an early morning mission. The smell of jet fuel hung in the cold air and was not at all unpleasant. To my right were quite a few more helicopters inside a hangar in various stages of readiness. On we went. I was becoming patently aware of the fact that I was running at a pace I had not run in decades but the motivation of that small army behind me kept me moving. We were now approaching the home of the USAF TPS and just beyond that was the Test Operations building, which is run by the 445th Flight Test Squadron and is responsible for flight operations at the base. Off to my left now were numerous high performance jet aircraft; F-16's and the dart-like T-38's all sitting in the cold morning with frost on their backs waiting for their masters to climb in later this morning and take them rocketing skyward. About this time I hear a loud "oooh-rah! OG coming through!" as the standard bearer for the Ops Group came running up alongside me then out in front of the formation and around the other side waving his flag overhead and yelling "OG, OG!" As he did this, the rest of the Ops Group repeated loudly "OG!" Motivation is a great thing, but all I was thinking was more like "Oh, Gee! I hope I don't collapse!" We finally reached our turn around point and of course I had the outside of the turn which meant running faster to stay in line with the rest of the command group. Just what I needed because I surely wasn't winded enough yet. Heading back east we were treated to the OG standard bearer once again running circles around the formation while shouting "OG, OG" I decided then and there that jet fuel must cause brain damage because that guy was definitely crazy. Up ahead was a beautiful sight which took my mind off my labored breathing for a minute or two as there, backlit by the rising sun was the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV being towed out to the flightline. What a beautiful aircraft! You look at this thing with its 116 foot wingspan and it is hard to believe that it is remotely controlled. At this point into the run I was feeling the pace. My legs were getting tired and my lungs were burning and it is at these times that the mind takes over and starts telling you things you don't want to hear. Things like "it's ok to stop. Nobody will notice!" But I knew they would and my pride was not going to let me listen to that voice so I began the standard mental routine I learned in the Army when the going got tough on a long run or road march. I began picking out a point ahead and telling myself 'make it to that point, it's not that far, get there and then worry about making it to the next point.' There's the Security Forces; 'I can make it to them' I told myself, then the SR-71; 'ok. Just make it to the plane' I continued. Col. Miller, who was my wingman on this run must have noticed my near death status because he kept telling me "You're doing great! Almost there! Not much further!" On we went with me mentally marking points ahead and moving on to the next and before I knew it we were turning towards home as the chief called out to the formation "200 meters to go, keep it up we're almost there!" then "100 meters!"..."50 meters!" and all of a sudden we crossed the finish line and were done! I looked down and hit the button on the timer on my wrist and was shocked to see the result - 27:41! I have not run a 5K in less than 32 minutes in over 26 years and yet with a bit of extra motivation -- ok, a lot of extra motivation -- I finished the run without embarrassing myself or the good people of the Civ-Mil Support Group. I enjoyed running with the 412th TW, they are a great group of true American patriots. I was honored to be afforded the opportunity to step into their world, even if for only an hour and I want to thank Col. William Thornton, 412th TW commander for allowing me this honor. Associating with our Airmen at Edwards can bring out the best in a person as I experienced this morning because we blew away all my previous 5K finish times. Even though I had my doubts, the constant encouragement from my wingman Colonel Miller, kept me focused on finishing and I dug down deep inside to respond and succeeded. To the men and women of the 412th TW: You Rock!!