Alabama, Auburn team up for annual Iron Ruck

While the University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams are preparing for Saturday’s Iron Bowl, student veterans from both schools will be undertaking an important mission: bringing awareness to veteran suicide.

Members of UA’s Crimson Legion and Auburn’s Student Veterans Association are meeting up Nov. 23 for the fifth annual Operation Iron Ruck.

This year, the event begins in Auburn. The veterans will march 151 miles to Tuscaloosa and arrive Nov. 26 ahead of kickoff.

“Almost every veteran and service member’s life has been touched by veteran suicide at some point,” said UA Crimson Legion President Tiffany Laurie.

Each student veteran on the march will hike about 50 miles total; they’ll walk for 2 and a half hours at a time before climbing into a support vehicle for a five-hour rest. All the while they’ll be carrying donated materials in a ruck sack.

Those donated items will be delivered to Bill Nichols State Veterans Home, Mission 22, Tuskeegee Veterans Assisted Living Centers and Three Hots and a Cot.

Read more about the Iron Ruck event right here.