ARLINGTON, Va., - What does it take to get servicemembers to take
charge of their mental and physical health?
After running along 550 miles of roads, bike paths and rail trails from Maine
to the nation's capital, two Army National Guard officers took their final
steps of a 21-day journey here at Arlington National Cemetery today to get
that point across.
Army Col. Jack Mosher and Maj. Jay Brock started the ultra-run in Kittery,
Maine, May 8. They headed south and stopped along the way at veteran's
medical centers and historic sites to inspire resiliency and wellness in the
nation's servicemembers, veterans and their families.
Bad weather and sore muscles did not stop them.
"The 'Resiliency Run' has been a long journey," said Mosher.
The officers took turns and ran two, 13.1-mile segments each day to cover the
equivalent of 21 marathons. Many took notice of their effort, put on their
running shoes and joined in to support their cause.
They were joined by civilians and other military members as they ran through
Portsmouth, N.H., Boston, New Haven, Conn., East Orange, N.J., Trenton, N.J.,
New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C. and elsewhere.
More than 800 Facebook fans followed their progress online. Some cheered them
on while others echoed their concern for servicemembers to maintain healthy
lifestyles.
They spent their last night in the National Capital Region before running the
last marathon-length around Washington, starting from the National World War
II Memorial, then ending across the Potomac River at the entrance of
Arlington National Cemetery.
The runners said they want servicemembers and veterans to take charge of
their own health.
"There's a universal understanding among veterans ... to tell our young guys
to get out and get help if they need it," said Mosher.
He admits openly that he suffered mentally and physically after his most
recent combat deployment.
Mosher, medium height and now weighing about 158 pounds, returned from
Afghanistan a mere 138 pounds. He endured a divorce and faced a seemingly
endless mountain of problems and issues in his professional and personal
life.
"I was in a rut," he said.
His post-deployment processing occurred at a time when programs like Yellow
Ribbon did not exist, and Soldiers had four months at home alone before
returning back to drill status.
"Jay just told me, 'if you're gonna survive this, you have to put weight on
and get healthy.'"
He started running to pull himself up.
"Running brought us out into the light, made us strong again," said Mosher.
"We just wanted to share that with others."
He added that "it doesn't have to be running, it could be fly fishing or
whatever you're passionate about."
The Army Guard's Decade of Health program, a 10-year strategic readiness
campaign supporting self-responsibility for health and wellness, was a main
sponsor for the Resiliency Run.
"Programs have not always been available, but they are now, and there's
simply no excuse for sitting home and suffering unnecessarily," said Mosher.
"They need to get out, and take advantage of them to be strong."