Blood, Sweat, and Stairs

To pay tribute to the lives lost [on 9/11], the 312th Training Squadron organizes a combat challenge and 5k run each year- Blood, Sweat & Stairs. The Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy hosts the training of all DoD fire protection specialists; by holding this event, the 17th Training Wing memorializes those who answered their final call to duty and gave their lives to save another. 

This tradition is a physical reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the firefighters who gave their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is more than just an annual challenge; it is a day of remembrance, reflection and unity, honoring the first responders who ran toward danger when duty called.

Blood, Sweat, & Stairs features two key challenges, each designed to push participants to their limits while reflecting the physical and mental demands of first responders. 

The day opened with a 5K run, a course that winds around and through the fire academy and includes checkpoints with physically demanding exercises. The route serves not just as a physical test, but as an emotional journey, allowing participants to reflect on the strength and resolve required of first responders in the face of disaster. Every step taken is a step in their memory—a reminder of their courage and sacrifice.

The combat challenge, however, is the heart of the event. This grueling obstacle course replicates the real-life tasks firefighters and first responders encounter on the job. Teams of five work together, racing against the clock as they complete demanding tasks that represent different challenges first responders face every day. These challenges began with lugging a fire hose up a five-story tower, showcasing strength and determination. Next, they demonstrated their coordination by hoisting heavy tools up the same building using a sturdy rope. The competition didn’t stop there; participants used a nine-pound sledgehammer to strike a 158-pound Keiser sled, simulating the precise power needed in real-life emergencies. Agility and control came into play as they aimed an active fire hose at a target. Finally, the obstacle course ended when each team’s final member hauled a dummy across the finish line, symbolizing the critical responsibility of ensuring no one is left behind in the face of adversity. The course tests strength, speed and endurance, but above all, it tests the participants’ ability to work as a team—just as firefighters rely on one another in the heat of an emergency.

“9/11 holds a lot of significance in this nation. This event is one way that we can remember that day and honor the sacrifices made that day by first responders as well as the Americans that lost their lives,” said Col. Angelina Maguinness, 17th Training Wing commander. “We can take a few moments to honor the events that occurred that day and remember how, as a nation, we built back stronger and continue to remain a strong country.”

The event is a vivid reminder of the dedication, resilience and heroism that defines the first responder community. It allows participants to connect physically and emotionally with the past, while preparing them for the future challenges they may face in service. Blood, Sweat & Stairs is a day when Goodfellow stands together to honor those who gave their all, and to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.