Milhares of runners participated in the 49th edition of Maratona from Revezamento Praia to Baía in Corpus Christi, in Texas, on Saturday. Entre they, Força Aérea candidates who took advantage of Forças Armadas’s annual Dia tradition to prepare physically and mentally before entering elite military training programs.
The Beach to Bay program is part of the rigorous preparation protocols necessary for those who want to work in Forças Especiais and Força Aérea. The relay race, founded in 1976 as a tribute to the military, became a selection and physical conditioning stage for candidates who will face training of up to two and a half years.
Preparação started months before training camp
Technical Sergeant Devondra Brown, Força Aérea’s local recruiter for Guerra Especial, explained that developing special operations candidates transcends conventional basic training. Complexo Atlético Cabaniss, in Corpus Christi, serves as a staging base where Brown and Sergeant Chris Casagrande guide candidates even before they leave for the formal training camp.
Casagrande, identified as a talent scout for special operations, detailed the complexity of the process:
- Treinamentos last between two and two and a half years
- Preparação preview may span months or years
- Desenvolvimento of humility, approachability and trustworthiness skills occurs before formal entry
- Candidatos must demonstrate resilience in adverse conditions, including extreme heat
Sergeant Brown highlighted that behavioral characteristics can be taught at this initial stage, avoiding wasting resources on unsuitable candidates. “Being humble, approachable and trustworthy is something that can be taught, which is why we try to do it at this level, before they start basic training.”
Especialistas in air control participate in the event
A team of Controle Aéreo Tático specialists, known as TAC-P fliers, from Base Conjunta San Antonio-Lackland also competed on Saturday. Sargento Técnico Thomas De Los Santos, TAC-P specialist of Lackland’s Base Aérea, described the functions of this specialty: integration with conventional units of Exército and Forças Especiais, with responsibility for providing close air support through communication with aircraft and requesting air strikes on the front line.
De Los Santos took advantage of his presence at the event to publicize the TAC-P program among potential interested parties, mentioning the opportunity to execute sophisticated operations with government resources. Embora was not directly involved in recruitment during the marathon, his participation reinforced the visibility of special operations among the public.
Impacto and candidate development
The experience accumulated in events such as Beach to Bay offers candidates exposure to controlled stress situations, where physical fatigue, challenging weather conditions and a competitive environment reflect aspects of later training. Casagrande indicated that watching candidates endure severe challenges in intense heat provides valuable data on mental resilience and disposition.
Brown reported personal satisfaction following the development of local candidates over periods ranging between three and nine months. Subsequent contact with successful candidates in selection programs, expressing gratitude and enthusiasm for the experience gained, represents the most significant return from recruitment work.
The marathon relay, therefore, transcends its initial function as a commemorative sporting event. Funciona as a tool for identifying, preparing and selecting qualified personnel for critical roles at Forças Especiais, consolidating Força Aérea’s strategy of involving candidates in training processes that begin months before formal entry into structured training camps.