Warriors lead the charge

Across March, members from 3SQN balanced running the Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) with putting in the hard yards – or kilometres – for March On.

The Milk Drinkers – 110 Warriors topped the fundraising leaderboard at more than $55,000. They ‘marched’ 13,905 kilometres.

Organiser FSGT Phil Marsden, 3SQN’s maintenance coordinator, said many participants ran around the base at lunchtime or clocked up distances in their leisure time.

“AWIC has been a high-tempo start to the year,” FSGT Marsden said.

“I think March On gave people a reason to get out of the office and sweat for a different reason instead of just about flying programs and aircraft.”

Soldier On’s March On invites participants to run or walk 96km – the length of the Kokoda Track.

3SQN decided to up the challenge from 96km to 110km.

“It’s 3SQN’s 110th birthday this September and our CO wanted to put a 110 flavour on everything we do,” FSGT Marsden said.

He believed the Milk Drinkers – 110 Warriors included members of every rank, from aircraftman/woman to air commodore.

“I aimed for 110 members. But we ended up with 123,” FSGT Marsden said.

FSGT Marsden said funds raised go towards Soldier On programs that help people get back on their feet when they’re in a dark place.

“For the Milk Drinkers, raising money to enable Soldier On’s support efforts is only part of our motivation," he said.

We’re also very passionate about raising awareness of all the support activities and opportunities available to veterans who may be struggling.

“We’d like to think that if someone is contemplating suicide, and they hear about March On for Soldier On, they will realise and utilise the support available. All March On teams and participants are proving that people do care, and there is support.”

For 3SQN Senior Engineering Officer SQNLDR Robert McMullan, March On was a way to stay healthy and contribute to a cause as part of 3SQN’s 110th birthday year.

“It was a great initiative for 3SQN to support mental health,” SQNLDR McMullan said.

After setting a goal of running 192km (a round trip of the Kokoda Trek), he wound up running 236km.

“ Witnessing all of 3SQN, members from 81WG and HQ Air Combat Group get involved was motivating. The OC 81WG ran 312 kilometres,” he said.

FSGT Marsden ran 223km, including the 12km Hill to Harbour in 68 minutes.

“That’s not as impressive as it sounds,” he said. “I was more of a survivor than a participant.”

He explained 3SQN has been known as the Milk Drinkers since it was with the Australian Flying Corps on the Western Front.

“Everyone was given a ration of milk and rum every day,” FSGT Marsden said.

“The pilots didn’t know if they were going to survive until the end of the day to enjoy their rum, so they’d put the rum in their milk for breakfast.

"Outsiders who didn’t know about the rum simply saw them drinking milk and dubbed them the Milk Drinkers. 110 years later, and that name is still carried with pride.”