Air Force Recruiting Commanders Join ROTC Cadets in Historic "Ruck Across the Brazos" Published Dec. 13, 2024 By Air Force Accessions Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - The top two leaders of Air Force Recruiting Service joined Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and student veterans from their alma maters to kick off the inaugural "Ruck Across the Brazos,” Nov. 29. Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, AFRS commander and a University of Texas alum, along with Brig. Gen. Craig McPike, AFRS deputy commander and Texas A&M alum, offered their encouragement and support prior to the start of the ruck, as the students set off to transport a football from Austin to Kyle Field in College Station. “It’s more than just football,” Amrhein said as he addressed the crowd at Veterans Memorial Plaza at the university in Austin. “This is about shared values—dedication, teamwork and respect—that transcend rivalry and bring us together.” The symbolic ruck march began in Austin to commemorate the return of the Lone Star Showdown, a fierce football competition between two Texas teams after a 13-year hiatus. The ROTC cadets and veterans carried the football through key points through Austin, and then transported the ball by bus to College Station, where it resumed its journey to Kyle Field in time for the game. “These are two great universities developing well-educated leaders of character that will be asked to solve future challenges of the state, nation and world. This is where is all gets started, and today ROTC and veteran students will carry the game balls from Austin to College Station, get to know each other, build camaraderie, esprit de corps and someday look back on this time when they are in uniform as officers and on the same team.” Amrhein and McPike added a unique dimension to the event, having both come full circle from being students at these rival universities into their current leadership roles, which now oversee Air and Space Force recruiting as well as ROTC programs nationwide. “Sports and military service share a common foundation: the drive to overcome challenges through teamwork, discipline, and resilience,” Amrhein said. “This isn’t just about reliving old rivalries. It’s about showing that even in competition, we can respect and uplift one another.” To learn more about the Air Force and Space Force and discover full and part-time opportunities, or to learn more about ROTC, visit www.AirForce.com or www.SpaceForce.com. To speak with a recruiter near you, click here.