Santa Maria native Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Grove, selected for National Guard Marathon Team
Latham, NY (05/15/2019) — Santa Maria native Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Grove, now a Rochester, NY resident, has been selected to become a member of the 2019 "All Guard" Marathon Team
Almost 200 Army and Air National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 45 states and two territories competed in the 42nd Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon in early May.
The top runners were selected to become members of the 2019 "All Guard" Marathon Team that travels to promote the National Guard and assist in recruiting and retention efforts across the United States.
The New York Army National Guard sent four Soldiers to compete for the fastest 45 male slots and fastest 15 female slots. All four New Yorker's- Grove, Captain Jean Marie Kratzer, Major Nick Whaley, and Major Matthew Kane- made the All Guard Team.
Grove was born in Santa Maria but is now a resident of Rochester.
The marathon program encourages and enhances the National Guard retention program by instilling physical fitness, self-discipline and esprit de corps among National Guard members from every state across the country.
Grove, deployed to Afghanistan three times in 2003, 2007 and 2013 and Iraq in 2004.
His assignments have included; map making lithographer in Germany with the 130th Engineers, CH-47 pilot with the 101st Airborne Division, CH-47 maintenance test pilot with the 10th Mountain Division, maintenance test pilot and pilot evaluator with the 3-126th Aviation Battalion and is currently the Headquarters Support Company Aviation Material Officer.
Grove is a graduate of the; CH-47 new equipment training and pilot course, Ch-47 power management mountain qualification, warrant officer staff phases 1 & 2, aviation warrant officer advanced course.
He holds a Liberal Arts degree from Central Texas College.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Grove is employed full time for the New York Army National Guard in Rochester as a Chinook pilot, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
The All Guard Marathon Team is expected to compete in five to eight marathons across the United States during the upcoming running season. The selectees will alternate events that they attend.
To qualify for the Lincoln Marathon, male Soldiers under the age of 40 must have run a recognized marathon, taking place in the 18 months prior to the Lincoln Marathon, in under four hours. For women and Masters, the time requirement is 4 hours 30 minutes.
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