SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH
Our 34th Year • Over 18,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 37 • September 17, 2026 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
Operation Warrior Fit 700-mile run comes through Rutherford County
Jonathan Milkovich is pictured on a recent run. Article by Scott Carpenter. Jonathan Milkovich, an Army veteran who lives with his wife Sabrina Shoaff in the mountains of western North Carolina is about to embark on an incredible journey stretching from one end of North Carolina to the other. Jonathan is executive director of the nonprofit Operation Warrior Fit. Beginning on September 21, he begins a 700 mile solo run known as Operation Carolina. He begins in the mountains in Cooper Basin at the NC/ Tennessee state line, and will finish at Harris Point, NC, on the
Outer Banks. Jonathan will run about 40 miles each day, and the entire event will take 17 days. It will bring Jonathan through Rutherford County, on the fifth day (September 25). He will travel down Highway 108 and down Maple Street in Rutherfordton. He will travel through Rutherfordton, Spindale, Forest City and Ellenboro and then move on to Gastonia. The purpose of Operation Carolina, and the overall Operation Warrior Fit organization according to Jonathan is to “… to put a spotlight on veterans,
service members, and first responders.” Jonathan wants veterans and others to know, that fitness is a great way to boost one’s mental health, as well as physical health. He remembers feelings of being somewhat lost, or without purpose, upon leaving military service. Though he was already married, Jonathan missed the routine, the brotherhood, the camaraderie. “I missed that far more than I realized,” he explained. Along with those feelings, came bouts of uncertainty, anxiety, and even some depression. And there are at times, feelings of loss. Others, Jonathan realized, often face similar hardships when it comes to readjusting to “normal” civilian life. Some of his buddies from the military were in a similar circumstance. In fact, one of his close friends from the military ultimately died by suicide. This remains a painful event for Jonathan to remember, and that event in particular, has helped inform his current work with Operation Warrior Fit. “Every day, 22 veterans die by suicide,” Jonathan explained. “First responders face similar mental health challenges, with firefighters and police officers experiencing higher rates of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than the general population. Operation Carolina aims to start 22 conversations about mental health every single day of this journey.” Jonathan says this isn’t simply a run. “It’s a movement to create new purpose and community for those who have served, proving that movement is medicine and help is always available,” he said. Though not always a superlong distance runner, he has been active since childhood. He grew up in Florida and he ran
cross country, and track in middle really bad day, he says instead of school and high school. He going out and drinking all night, embraced triathlons in college. reaching out to friends, or going Throughout his childhood he for a workout, a run, a bike ride, would often visit the mountains are healthier options mentally of North Carolina on family and physically. vacations. “I’m fortunate. I am in the best “I love it here. I have great shape, best condition of my life,” memories of visiting North Jonathan said. “I want others to Carolina, when we were see that through fitness, and living in Florida,” he said. “My fellowship, they can get through parents eventually retired to the difficult times. We are building that mountains, and my wife and I live supportive community. And I want here now.” more and more veterans and first PTSD, Jonathan says, is responders to understand that very real, especially for those they are not alone.” serving in the military, and first Operation Warrior Fit became responders. and active nonprofit organization “You don’t have to have served in January. This is the first major in active combat, in order to multi-day event organized by experience PTSD. I was not in Operation Warrior Fit. The active combat,” he said. organization also partners But, mental health stresses with other races and events to are prevalent. Jonathan had encourage and support veterans moments when he was not and first responders. coping in healthy ways. He Jonathan is encouraging occasionally would drink too individuals and supporters in much with friends, instead of each community, to come out directly addressing the anxiety. and join him if only for a mile or “When I lost my buddy, I two. would ask, could I have done He estimates that he will be something, could I have done coming through Rutherfordton more,” Jonathan said. between noon and 1 p.m. on “I want more people to Friday, September 25. More information about understand that these things organization, are not just ok to talk about, Jonathan’s they should be talked about,” and the event, can be found Jonathan said. “I think veterans at www.operationwarriorfit. and first responders are too org then click on Operation often locked into a mindset of not Carolina. talking about things. Just keeping quiet.” “The biggest message I want to get out there is that just talking about things, can make them better,” Jonathan continued. “It is ok to not be ok. To acknowledge that, and talk about things in order to find a way forward.” Jonathan is building a supportive community of veterans, and first responders who have had similar experiences. When Jonathan with his wife, Sabrina Shoaff. people are having a
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