U.S. Army veteran Jason Wood, right, is one of the 12 runners participating in Team RWB’s Old Glory Ultra Relay in May 2025. Wood served in three combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Team RWB)

Twelve members of Team Red, White & Blue — a health and wellness community for veterans — were given the mission to carry the American flag 3,000 miles across the country and set a world record in the organization’s first Old Glory Ultra Relay.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to make that happen,” Army veteran Jason Wood said.

Taking place during Team Red, White & Blue’s 15th year anniversary, the relay aims to inspire and motivate veterans nationwide to retain healthy lives post-service.

“Some of them [the runners] have been wounded in combat, some of them have overcome incredible adversity in their lives, and those stories are gonna get out,” said Michael Sullivan, Team RWB’s chief of staff. “I think people are going to relate. Maybe not to the speed that they’re running, but to this idea that they’re getting out there and challenging themselves to continue to move forward towards a better day.”

On May 2, the all-veteran team will take off from the USS Midway Museum in San Diego and run 7-8 minute miles nonstop through Phoenix; Roswell, N.M.; Dallas, Texas; Springdale, Ark.; Nashville Tenn.; and Salem, Va. They will aim to cross the finish line at the National Mall in Washington on May 17, Armed Forces Day.

A map showing the 3,000-mile route 12 members from Team RWB will run through during the Old Glory Ultra Relay in May 2025. (Team RWB)

“We get to use this event to highlight what Team RWB and the Eagles have accomplished in 15 years. ... I think it’s gonna be pretty epic,” Sullivan said.

Wood, a former Army officer who served in three combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is one of the runners taking on the challenge. He told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday that, following his military service, he faced personal struggles including PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcoholism — challenges that many veterans transitioning from the military also face.

“This [Old Glory Ultra Relay] was an opportunity to give back to that veteran community and show them that they too can make this jump and find their way out of a dark space like I was,” he said. “I’d love to be an example to those people that are struggling that they can make it to the other side. There are brighter days ahead, and there is a way to reach out and find that brotherhood and sisterhood in communities like Team RWB.”

Wood said setting a world record with the relay would be great. But he wants to shine a positive light on the veteran community by showing “... veterans accomplishing this mission, and ... that we’re not this broken community. We can achieve anything that we put our minds to.”

Wood will be running with 11 other veterans who were each carefully selected by Sullivan and his leadership team. Sullivan said they reached out to all Team RWB members to find veterans willing to run the relay. Volunteers were interviewed about their running history, endurance capabilities and military service in an effort to find the most suitable group that can represent not only Team RWB, but all veterans.

U.S. Army veteran Jason Wood runs with the American flag. He is one of the 12 runners that will run in Team RWB’s first-ever Old Glory Ultra Relay in May. Wood served in three combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Team RWB via Jason Wood)

Most importantly, Sullivan and Wood said, they’ve shown the ability to work in a team to try and achieve a common goal — a skill acquired from their shared military experience.

“Finding the best teammates was more important than finding the fastest runners,” Sullivan said.

Along the route, runners will cross through rally stops in the different states where local communities can show their support for the relay and learn more about Team RWB. The organization will also be raising a goal of $1 million throughout the relay which will serve as their main fundraiser this year to help continue the organization’s programming and mission.

“Whether you’re a veteran or a civilian that supports the services, you’re not, not going to be inspired by what we’re attempting to pull off,” said Sullivan. “The majority are out there just quietly serving, probably post-service, and hopefully this makes them smile, maybe pick up a flag and represent at their next local 5K.”