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Cannon Airman to represent AFSOC at 2011 Air Force Marathon

  • Published
  • By Cadet Lauren McGuire
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Swislocki, contract administrator, 27th Special Operations Contracting Squadron, will represent Air Force Special Operations Command in the Major Command Challenge at the Air Force Marathon, Sept. 18, 2011 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

The Air Force Marathon began on September 20, 1997 to celebrate the founding of the U.S. Air Force. This year will be the 15th Air Force Marathon, marking the 64th anniversary of the Air Force. More than 12,000 participated in the marathon, half marathon, wheelchair, 10K, and 5K races in 2010, and even more are expected to participate this year.

In the annual MAJCOM Challenge, members of each of the ten Air Force MAJCOMs vie for the trophy in a friendly competition based on each MAJCOM's overall participation and the finish time of the runner selected to represent the unit. Airman Swislocki's finish time will determine AFSOC's score at this year's race.

While in high school in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Airman Swislocki despised distance running. He said it was by accident, after a college rugby injury around seven years ago, that he first became interested in the sport. He enjoys running now because it is a stress reliever, and he believes he has a God-given talent that he should utilize as much as possible.

He has completed two full marathons and over five half marathons in his running career so far. Since he has been stationed at Cannon, Airman Swislocki has won nine 5K races, and he is a member of the base running club headed by Tech. Sgt. Nina Sellers, 27th Special Operations Maintenance Operations Squadron.

To train for the marathon, Airman Swislocki runs 30 to 45 miles each week. Among his personal life goals, he said, "I want to complete an Ironman [triathlon] before I'm 30. I also want to participate in marathons from every state and continent. My ultimate goal is to run professionally."

Airman Swislocki said he hopes to improve his marathon personal record of 3 hours, 18 minutes at this year's Air Force Marathon, and he feels it was an honor to be chosen to represent AFSOC.

Chief Master Sgt. Matt Caruso, 27th Special Operations Wing command chief, was confident that Cannon could find a well-qualified runner to represent AFSOC in the Air Force Marathon.

"Airman Swislocki is a quiet professional, and a well-mannered professional Airman," he said. Chief Caruso also said that Airmen Swislocki is an outstanding Airman who always puts dedication to his job before running, despite his athletic ability.

"We're bigger, faster and stronger here at Cannon," Chief Caruso said. He knows Airman Swislocki is a talented runner who will represent AFSOC well, he said.