Chapman leads his final Commandant’s Run; says farewell to troops

by | Jul 27, 2015 | News

By Patrick Bray
DLIFLC Public Affairs


 

Chapman leads his final Commandant’s Run; says farewell to troops

About 3,000 service members, along with some family members, joined Col. David K. Chapman as he led his final run as commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center July 24. (Photo by Patrick Bray, DLIFLC Public Affairs)

MONTEREY, Calif. – About 3,000 service members, along with some family members, joined Col. David K. Chapman as he led his final run as commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center July 24.

The Commandant’s Run, as it is called, began at the Price Fitness Center athletic field and wound through the Presidio of Monterey, California, for a distance of about two miles. Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force units held their guidons high and called cadence throughout as they made their way to the finish line at Soldier Field.

Throughout the U.S. Armed Forces these types of unit runs are designed to be challenging, team-building activities for service members. The runs are usually conducted within individual services, but at DLIFLC, the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force all have the unique opportunity to run together.

Chapman leads his final Commandant’s Run; says farewell to troops

About 3,000 service members, along with some family members, joined Col. David K. Chapman as he led his final run as commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center July 24. (Photo by Patrick Bray, DLIFLC Public Affairs)

“This reminds us that we’re all in one military, and we’re all on the same team,” said Chapman at the conclusion on Soldier Field. He continued by giving the service members and families a congratulatory “well done” along with an informal good bye. Chapman changes command July 29.