September was National Suicide Awareness month and what better way to spread awareness than with a 22-day push-up challenge!

The challenge is being sponsored by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Department of the Southeast (DOTS) to help provide outreach and support to veterans in need. 

It is being facilitated by Amy Guillory, director of the wing’s Psychological Health Program. “The Challenge is a great way for us to reach out and support one another’s mental and physical health,” said Guillory. “Veterans of all ranks experience challenges on a daily basis and this program shows our commitment to helping each other in times of need.”

The challenge kicked off on Sept. 7, after a Wing All Hands assembly featuring “1 Degree of Separation,” a group of four stand-up comedians. The show highlighted suicide awareness by blending comedy with some very real heartfelt discussions of suicide and how to help prevent it. Immediately after the assembly, Col Douglas Brader, 507 ARW Vice-Commander, launched the challenge by leading participants in their first day of push-ups outside the base theater.

Leading ROA’s sponsorship is former Mission Support Group Vice Commander Lt Col (Ret) Richard Stephens, Jr. “The ROA is committed to ensuring Reserve readiness and that all starts with our Airmen,” said Stephens. “The push-up Challenge is a way that we can show support and encourage veterans to seek the help they need to stay safe and remain ready for the operational mission”.

The Challenge is being documented on the wing’s “Reach Your Peak” health and fitness GroupMe site. After the first week of the challenge, Reservists completed over 1,430 pushups. Each participant records and posts their pushups on the site, encouraging each other with a variety of emojis and messaging interactions.

Col. Ryan Brader leads the launch of the 22For22 Push-up Challenge. Joined by retired Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, the Challenge seeks to raise awareness to help deter veteran suicide.

Lt. Col. Mark Vardaro, 507 ARW Chief of Staff, aka, “The Beast,” completes another day's 22 push-ups.  The Oklahoma Chapter started its 22 Days of Service in Sep 2025.