Stepping Off

As we begin this journey, here are some interesting facts about our starting point...

• Twentynine Palms was named for the palm trees located in the Oasis of Mara at the Joshua Tree National Park headquarters.  When the area was settled by gold miners in the late 19th century, there were 29 palm trees growing in the oasis, most of which are still standing today.
• On August 20, 1952, Camp Pendleton Base Headquarters issued Post Order 343, and Marine Corps Training Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif, was born.   Only 70 Marines comprised the initial Marine detachment at the Center and by mid-December 1952, a fresh 3rd Marine Division with assistance from the 12th Marine Regiment conducted the first large-scale, live-fire field exercise aboard the new base. This “FEX-1” gave Marines a glimpse of the facility’s potential and foreshadowed the large-scale combined-arms exercises for which the base is now famous.
• Throughout the years, the vibrant and vital relationship between the base and the City of Twentynine Palms and other Hi-Desert communities has been a source of comfort and pride to the command. From those early days when the survival of 70-odd Marines depended almost solely upon what the budding town provided, to today, the relationship has always been one of mutual respect and support.

I am so excited to start on this journey and see how far we are able to travel in a demonstration of our support for our Marines of 3rd Battalion 7th Marines.

All the Details!!

Who's Joining Us...

Anyone can can participate...a spouse, child family member, or loved one of a 3/7 Marine or Sailor.  We will officially kick-off the program on October 1st, but if you done any miles in September please add them to your October total.  We will be doing this for the duration of the deployment...so it is never too late to join!!!

The First Step...

It's simple to join us...email me at "walkingtoandfromafghanistan@gmail.com" and I will send you the registration form.  Once the registration form is completed and returned, start moving and logging those miles!  Each month, an e-mail will be sent to collect your monthly total. If you do not have e-mail, please be sure to mail your miles every month to the address on the registration form.  Any updates and totals will be posted on the blog, so be sure to check back often!!

Where We Are Headed...

The total distance from Twentynine Palms, California to Afghanistan is 7,900 miles; getting there and back is 15,800 miles.  If we have 100 people commit to walking 5.6 miles a week, a total of 22.5 miles a month for 12 months,we can get all those miles!

 Remember, this is fun - get the kids involved, swim, dust off that jogging stroller, take the dog for a walk...whatever you need to do to get your feet moving!!  If a class or workout is more your speed - log a mile for every 15 minutes of exercise.  For example, if your Zumba class is 60 minutes, that is equivalent to 4 miles.


As you get started, please keep your current fitness level in mind!!

Keeping In Touch...

To submit your progress or if you have questions or comments about the "Walking To and From Afghanistan" program, please write to:

walkingtoandfromafghanistan@gmail.com