JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- Every September, the Air Force joins the nation in observing Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. For the 960th Cyberspace Wing, this year marks the fifth anniversary of a tradition that has grown from a small 5K to a wing-wide challenge with life-saving meaning.
The goal: collectively walk or run 40,000 miles during the month of September. This is not an arbitrary number. It is deliberate and intended to bring awareness to a public health crisis. This number symbolizes the estimated 40,000 Americans who die by suicide every year.
“This is a huge opportunity for us,” said Col. Joshua Garrison, 960th CW commander. “The event reminds us to check in, to ask how our people are doing, and to never miss the opportunity to reach out. To our Airmen, the message is simple: we care. To our leaders, the responsibility is clear: it’s our duty to ensure our members are okay.”
This year, the 433rd Airlift Wing is joining forces with the 960th CW to help reach the 40,000-mile milestone, emphasizing the importance of wingmanship and community in preventing suicide. The latest episode of the Alamo Wing’s “Ready, Set, Airlift!” podcast featured subject matter experts from both wings, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in addressing the problem.
For Frances Martinez, 960th CW director of psychological health, the significance goes beyond the numbers.
“Suicide prevention isn’t just about one annual training or one month,” Martinez said. “It’s about the daily conversations, the everyday moments where we choose to check in with someone and break the stigma. Every time we pause to ask how a fellow Airman is really doing, that’s prevention in action.”
Those conversations are vital in a Reserve environment where Airmen juggle military service, civilian careers, and family commitments.
“We know that relationship stressors, financial issues, and major life events all add weight to the pot of boiling water that every one of us carries,” Martinez explained. “Recognizing those stressors early and being willing to say, ‘I see what you’re going through—how are you really doing?’ can make all the difference.”
Chaplain (Maj.) Heather Mendoza, 433rd AW deputy wing chaplain, echoed that sentiment.
“The training gives us tools, but what matters most is pausing long enough to use them,” Mendoza said. “Being a good wingman means knowing your people, noticing when something has changed, and sometimes having the courage to admit when you yourself are not at your best. Leaders who model that honesty show their Airmen that it’s okay to seek help.”
For Garrison, the challenge is as much about leadership as it is about physical miles.
“I’ve pushed this message out across the 960th: leaders should be in contact with every single one of their members during the UTA weekend,” he said. “Checking in isn’t optional—it’s part of taking care of our force. Events like this remind us of that responsibility.”
The “40,000 Miles for 40,000 Lives” campaign builds on years of effort by Martinez, who first coordinated the wing’s run in 2021. What began as a single event has grown into a shared tradition that unites Airmen, families, and community members in a cause larger than themselves.
“Suicide doesn’t discriminate,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t care about rank, background, or career field. But what we do know is that suicide is preventable—through awareness, through connection, and through the daily work of showing up for one another.”
As the 960th CW and 433rd AW lace up their running shoes this September, every step represents a life remembered and a life worth fighting for. Together, they carry the message that no Airman should ever have to walk alone.
Click Here to listen: Ready, Set, Airlift! Ep. 25 Suicide Prevention – Going Beyond The Brief