NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Airmen came together for a continuous 24-hour Tactical Air Control Party memorial run at the Warrior Fitness Center outdoor track on Nellis, May 15 and 16, honoring TACP Airmen who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“With the highly demanding nature of operations, this event serves as an important opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who have gone before us,” said Lt. Col. Dustin Nedolast, the 6th Combat Training Squadron director of operations.
The event opened with a formation run led by Tom Moody, a retired TACP, holding the guidon. Units worldwide have joined the 24-hour memorial run since its first edition in 2011. This year members from the 6th CTS, 66th Weapons Squadron and both the 3rd and 9th Air Support Operations Squadron visited to show support.
Throughout the event, Airmen maintained a constant presence on the track, rotating through hourly shifts to ensure guidon movement never ceased. By the end of the memorial run, the cumulative distance covered by all participants exceeded 760 miles.
The TACP career field is among the Air Force’s most demanding, with Airmen embedded alongside joint forces and trained to coordinate air-to-ground operations and execute Joint Terminal Attack Control.
"While I’m putting in miles, I’m just thinking about the Airmen before me and how they would want us to live,” said Staff Sgt. Antonio Zavala, a 6th CTS TACP Airman.
Family members, community supporters and base leadership attended the run, showing their support throughout the 24 hours. Current and retired Airmen honored fallen TACP service members with each pass of the guidon.
Chief Master Sgt. Cole Waterbury emphasized the importance of honoring fallen TACP Airmen by ensuring their families are supported when tragedy strikes during combat operations.
“We must honor the sacrifices of the fallen and their families,” said Nedolast. “We must continue to strengthen the community and stay focused on the mission moving forward. This event is the perfect way to do all three.”
The run concluded the following morning with a final lap and memorial push-ups symbolizing for over 20 TACP Airmen who have lost their lives in combat and training.