The S.C. State Guard will host a voluntary State Guard Readiness ruck-march Saturday with cadets from The Citadel.

The joint hike will be the first time the two organizations have trained together.

The hike will be held in the Francis Marion National Forest, off U.S. 17 north of Charleston near the Berkeley County line. Participants will hike 15 miles carrying a 75-pound pack.

General officers, state senators and a representative of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Association will observe the hike.

“The State Guard is preparing to meet its mission as immediate boots-on-the-ground during a natural disaster,” said Col. Tom Mullikin, deputy commander of the State Guard.

-- Jeff Wilkinson