Hundreds of AGOW Airmen run for TACP cause

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Story by 1st Lt. Faith Brodkorb
93d Air Ground Operations Wing

Hundreds of 93d Air Ground Operations Wing (AGOW) tactical air control party (TACP) Airmen across the country participated in the TACP Association’s 24 Hour Challenge, March 28, 2019 to raise money for TACP Airmen and families in need.

The TACP Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support members of the TACP community as well as better the communities in which they reside, and it hosts this world-wide event each year to raise money for its cause.

“The whole squadron participates,” said Senior Airman Cade Draper, 15th Air Support Operations Squadron TACP and local 24 Hour Challenge planner. “They do miles and make donations. These guys take care of their own.”

Local TACP Association volunteers host the annual 24 Hour Challenge at numerous locations around the world, and participants sign up for time slots to make sure at least one person is running at all times.

The event raises money through donations; participants donate either a set amount or make a pledge per mile. Each person who completes a lap writes it down on a record sheet, and then those laps are counted by the event volunteers. Many TACP members of the 93d AGOW support the organization because they have seen first-hand how it helps Airmen and their families.

“They support [the TACP families] through scholarships and big-ticket items,” said Technical Sgt. Travis Aslakson, 15th ASOS battalion non-commissioned officer in-charge. “Like for one family last year, they did a scholarship, and they bought the oldest daughter of one of the fallen TACPs a car when she turned 16.”

Even though the event is centered around running, it’s also about community. At the Savannah, Georgia event held at Lake Mayer Park, members of the 15th ASOS brought games, food, and music. Spouses and children came out do some laps, hang out and play cornhole. Some people even brought their dogs to run with them.

“They’ve opened it up more to where families with young children who like to ride bikes or roller blade and stuff like that, those can count towards everything,” said Draper. “It’s really family oriented, and everyone’s invited. It’s not just for TACPs.”

Draper said the local event was able to raise $4,000 for the TACP Association. The participants were glad that none of them had ever needed the association’s help, but they were also glad it was there if they ever did.

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