Operation Iron Ruck Raises Awareness of Veteran Suicide

MONTGOMERY, AlabamaWSFA) – “We are actively working to eradicate this epidemic,” Gov. Kay Ivey said during a proclamation ceremony declaring Nov. 27 Operation Iron Ruck Day in honor of an annual movement to raise awareness and prevent veteran suicide.

Operation Iron Ruck is a military training exercise that involves carrying a backpack a long distance. Every year on Iron Bowl weekend, students organize their own 151-mile ruck to benefit veterans.

“It’s a war cry. These are veterans standing up for themselves by fighting for our lives together,” said Bill Schwenk, coordinator of Auburn’s Operation Iron Ruck.

March participants say the trip is often therapeutic and reminds veterans in the crowd that they are not alone.

Participants will wear 22 name badges to represent the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day in 2018, when they started the movement at the Iron Bowl. Since then, the suicide rate has fallen to 17 deaths per day.

“Please know that the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs is always here to provide assistance, and we look forward to another successful Operation Iron Ruck,” said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Newton, Acting Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.

Beyond that, the state Veterans Association and veterans advocates are calling on lawmakers to support the Houston Hunter bill. If passed, the bill would create a program for veterans to store their firearms with businesses that register as federal firearms licensees.

Officials say an extra step of going to a business to get a gun could be enough to save a veteran’s life.

Click here to learn more about Operation Iron Ruck and donate to its efforts.

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