Unified Airmen: Lajes formation run brings wing together

by Capt. Mark Graff
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/7/2014 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- The 65th Air Base Wing at Lajes Field held a wing formation run here, March 7. The formation run - a recurring, quarterly event - reminds Lajes Airmen of the wing's focus areas: discipline, readiness and unity.

Squadrons assembled in formation and performed calisthenics and warm-up exercises prior to the two-mile run.

Not coincidentally, the running course took Lajes Airmen onto the base's airfield and past massive fuel tanks and communications equipment. The 65th ABW's mission is to provide en-route support to transient aircraft, employ the Air Force's second largest fuel store and facilitate global communications through special equipment on the island.

The 65th Civil Engineer Squadron led the formation run after being awarded the Commander's Cup Trophy for earning first place in 2013 intramural sports. The wing also recognized 2013 Annual Awards winners.

Master Sgt. Victor Santana, 65th Contracting Flight infrastructure section chief, said the event unifies Lajes Airmen and reminds them of basic military skills.

"This event is a great opportunity for the wing to form up as a team and listen to guidance from our leaders," said Santana, a native of Guanica, Puerto Rico. "It also shows how important PT is to our wing leaders - all the way from the top to the bottom."

Santana added that a formation run affords units the opportunity to practice seldom-used drill and ceremonies skills.

Tech. Sgt. Robert Payne led warm-up stretches before the run to prevent injuries.

"It (was) a windy cold morning, so the biggest thing was warming everybody up (and getting) the blood pumping, as you don't want to do the cold stretching," said Payne, a native of Seattle. "We had a two mile run on some uneven terrain, so the biggest thing was just making sure everybody was loose so we got everybody back with no injuries."

Santana noted an overall sense of camaraderie and unity at the wing-wide event.

"When we get together like this, it makes us a team; one team, one fight," the master sergeant added. "I've been in the Air Force for 17 years and while this is not my first wing run, I think that we do it a little bit special here at Lajes."

Payne saw the wing run as a break from the norm and a team-building event.

"It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and the mundane," said Payne. "We are only (600) strong here at Lajes and we get caught up working our own shops and taking care of our own daily disciplines. But when we can sacrifice a couple hours and come together with the family aspect and brotherhood, then it doesn't get much cooler than that."