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Members of Team Kirtland participate in a ruck march at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. The Holiday Ruck March was conducted in an effort to support the Military and Family Readiness Center in gathering donations for the food pantry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

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Staff Sgt. Austin Flemming, 377th Weapons System Security Squadron training instructor, runs during the Holiday Ruck March at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. Airmen stationed at KAFB were all invited to participate in Kirtland’s first ever Holiday Ruck March. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

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Members of Team Kirtland donate food items to the Military and Family Readiness Center’s food pantry at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. The Military and Family Readiness Center’s food pantry supports military members and their families through times of needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

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Members of Team Kirtland pose for a group photo at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. Team Kirtland hosted its first Holiday Ruck March in an effort to support the Military and Family Readiness Center in gathering donations for the food pantry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

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Airmen from the 58th Special Operations Wing pose for a group photo at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. Team Kirtland hosted its first Holiday Ruck March in an effort to support the Military and Family Readiness Center in gathering donations for the food pantry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

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Members of Team Kirtland participate in a ruck march at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Dec. 15, 2023. Team Kirtland hosted its first Holiday Ruck March in an effort to support the Military and Family Readiness Center in gathering donations for the food pantry. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

Team Kirtland Rucks Together in Support of the Airman’s Pantry

Published Dec. 15, 2023
By Senior Airman Ruben Garibay
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

Team Kirtland hosted its first ever Holiday Ruck March in an effort to support the Military and Family Readiness Center's food pantry, by gathering and donating food items, Dec. 15, 2023.

Members of Team Kirtland conducted a three and a half mile ruck march around Kirtland Air Force Base, all while carrying the very food items they would eventually donate.

By showcasing the desire to help out their community, members from across the installation came together and helped out families in need this holiday season.

“This just seemed like a fun way to bring everyone together and have some holiday cheer,” shared 1st Lt. Benjamin Flickinger, 58th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight commander. “It’s a great way to get some much needed donations for the end of the year.”

Flickinger is optimistic that the Holiday Ruck march could become an annual event at Kirtland because of the positive impact it has on the entire community.