AMARG held Boneyard 5k

by Airman 1st Class Christine Griffiths
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/30/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ.,  -- The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group hosted the Desert Boneyard 5K here, April 28.

AMARG, commonly known as the Boneyard, is a one-of-a-kind, specialized facility within the Air Force where aircraft retire.

Prior to the run, participants watched as Airmen from the D-M Honor Guard performed the opening ceremony and told the Air Force story, as well as the history of the Boneyard.

This was the first year AMARG held the 5k, knowing that the local community and active duty military from around Tucson would enjoy the chance to run among the aircraft at the Boneyard.

"In the initial planning stages we were actually preparing for 300 people," said 1st Lt. Michele Tempel, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron Civil Engineer Readiness Emergency Management flight commander. "And we really passed that up fairly quickly and ended up with 810 registered participants; we far exceeded our expectations!"

Capt. Michael Miller, Bravo Company 209th Military Intelligence commander at Fort Huachuca, was the first place winner in the first 5k event.

"This event was really well organized and well supported. I can tell the Air Force put a lot of effort into it," Miller said. "It was a lot of fun and it was great to see the whole community out here having a good time."

With the positive response from the base and local community, AMARG is looking to hold this event annually.

"Hopefully in the years to come it becomes and Air Force tradition," Tempel said. "We have a lot of interest, so I can definitely see that happening in the future."