POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. -- Physical fitness and overcoming challenges are core components of the military lifestyle, and combining the two is a natural fit. Recognizing this, Chief Master Sgt. Tomio P. Brown Sr., 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group (AMOG) command chief, started a personal challenge years ago to run 100 miles during the month of May. Now, for the second consecutive year, he has issued that same challenge to the members of Team Pope.
Although this challenge being issued is one of physical endurance and dedication, it also could touch the other three Pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness (CAF): Mental, Social and Spiritual. Partnering with the 43rd AMOG Chaplain, Maj. Patrick Bracken, the pair motivate and encourage Airmen and civilians to participate in the event.
“I think it's important for everyone to challenge themselves to see what they're capable of,” Brown explained. “I believe that we are all more capable than we think. Until you're challenged, you will not know what your capacity is.
“[The challenge could] either focus on one or two – if not all [CAF Pillars],” he continued. “This can be done by involving other people, by involving your own spirituality and your own mental challenges.”
Brown first issued this challenge in 2025 after telling the origin story from when he was his children’s stand-in PT teacher during COVID times. Since that time, he has done this event annually and affords the opportunity to others at the units he has been a part of. He views continuing this undertaking as a way for Airmen to be honest with themselves in regard to other challenges that they may be going through.
“Only you know what's holding you back,” Brown said. “What needs the attention? I've spoken in various venues about being honest with yourself, being honest with me, being honest with your teammates, being honest with your family. Sometimes that means honesty with yourself is, I need to go seek help, I need to take a knee or maybe I need to work on some physical fitness for myself. I think the biggest obstacle most of the time is ourselves.”
The thoughts from Bracken reinforced the command chief’s sentiments.
“We rarely rise to the occasion, but we often fall back on our greatest level of training,” Bracken mused. “This challenge asks Airmen to prove to themselves that they are capable of accomplishing and benchmarking feats that bolster the confidence they have in their ability to sustain the fight and achieve the objectives of the U.S. in combat operations.”
Being in the military sometimes gives members unique ways of viewing the world, but these somewhat shared experiences and lifestyles provide a way for individuals to unify and focus on the CAF Pillars to maintain and increase their resilience.
“The benefit is across the board, providing physical fitness, in moving our bodies through the 100 miles, mental toughness, in deciding to go beyond areas of comfort and spiritual strength, in the assurance of the warrior heart that each teammate gains by challenging and improving themselves,” Bracken elaborated.
At the conclusion of the month of May, the 43rd AMOG Religious Support Team and the command chief celebrate the efforts of the participants with an informal ceremony.
“There will be a culmination event at the end of the 100 miles in May,” Brown said. “Similar to last year, I handed out certificates for those who completed the 100 miles. That is just a certificate of completion, and we still celebrate everyone who participates.”
“It’s more than a physical challenge. It’s a challenge in discipline, resilience and mental fortitude. Once you get past the ‘I can’t do that’ and get on the ‘I can do anything’ train, you’re already winning,” Brown concluded.