Operation Iron Ruck (OIR) is an annual event hosted by the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) and the University of Alabama Campus Veterans Association (CVA) to raise awareness and funds for veteran suicide prevention. As the state of Alabama has one of the nation’s highest veteran suicide rates, OIR seeks to increase the public’s knowledge on this issue while uniting veterans with the community, funding charities, championing veteran suicide education and supporting local veteran organizations.

Each fall, the ruck march starts at the visiting team’s stadium and ends at the home team’s stadium. For 2021, we will start at The University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium on Wednesday, 24 November, and walk approximately 151 miles to Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium completing the march on Saturday, 27 November. The march is completed in shifts and consists of rotations between marching, resting, and supporting. Each shift would last the time it takes the current marching shift to complete the approximately 7 miles. Participants carry a 22 lb. ruck-sack, to coincide with the **Mission 22 suicide campaign**. The packed ruck will consist of toiletries, undergarments, and other items collected by the athletics and veteran’s organization departments to be donated to Alabama Veteran Organizations (TBA) & Three Hots and a Cot.

The marchers will also pass around and carry an “Iron Bowl Game Ball” between stadiums. 2021 OIR will continue the dog tags containing the names of Alabama Veterans that have succumb to suicide and their family members have asked to be memorialized during the march.

Operation Iron Ruck Zero Day

Join us at our Zero Day event at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City on August 17th, 2024! This 5K ruck will also offer classes on foot care, fitness and ruck packing. There will be vendors and resources for participants and families. This event is an opportunity for us to build camaraderie and community, as well as support for Operation Iron Ruck.