Photo By 1st Lt. Richard Longoria | Col. Werner Nemetschek pins a medal on a member of the AWACS International Marching...... read more read more
NIJMEGEN, Netherlands - The AWACS International Marching Team (IMT) completed the 98th 4-Daagse March in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
The AWACS IMT, consisting of Military personal from Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, participated in the four-day march, which began July 15 and ended July 18, 2014. This marked the 30th time the NATO E-3A Component was represented at the event.
“It’s good to see you smiling and proud,” said, Col. Werner Nemetschek, Component chief of staff. “You’ve done a great thing for yourself and a great thing for the team. You pushed yourself and it’s a rewarding achievement.”
The “4-Daagse” in the region of Nijmegen is one of the most popular multinational marching events in the world. This year more than 43,000 civilian and military participant joined the “walk of the world.” Participants came from countries all over the world. Most civilians walked 200 kilometers in four days and the military participants walked 160 kilometers fully packed.
The military marchers spent their nights in “Heumensoord,” a tent city located in the rural area of Nijmegen. Each morning, the first participants wake up at 2:30 a.m. and must be at the central starting point by 3:30 a.m. to begin the day’s 40km march. For the military, the first three days finish back at the camo, but on day four, they are awarded the Nijmegen Medal in Charlemagne, an official rest point.
With their medals now pinned to their shirts, the military marchers then complete the final six kilometers. The last stretch down the “Via Gladiola” is known as the “big parade.” The march officially ends in the center of Nijmegen, close to the city hall, where thousands of people welcome the marchers.
“Completing the march requires a lot of dedication and a huge personal effort,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kai Basse, the IMT leader. “It’s a challenging task to walk 40 kilometers and then wake up and do it again three more times. It’s a mental and physical test. It is definitely something you have to train for. Those who don’t train will have aching bodies and blisters on their feet.”
It is impossible to imagine but it’s a lot more fun that is sounds. I only walked with the IMT for the last half of the final day to get pictures, so I can’t speak for the entire experience. However, it was exhilarating to have people line the streets on both sides and cheer you on as you march down the road. I can’t even begin to explain how inspiring the atmosphere is; all I can do is highly recommend you participate in it next year.
“Whether you want to represent the Component and/or your country, the 4-Daagse march is a great experience,” Basse said. The Dutch government, military, police, medics, countless civilian organizations and the Dutch population in and around Nijmegen really make the event memorable.”
The AWACS IMT is already looking for people to join the 2015 Nijmegen March. For more information or to join the team, call Basse at extension 3673. Also, log on to www.4daagse.nl.
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2014 04:48 |
| Story ID: | 136597 |
| Location: | NIJMEGEN, NL |
| Web Views: | 306 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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