Photo By Staff Sgt. Katherine Forbes | Soldiers in the first heat of the 13th Annual Norwegian Foot March rush through the...... read more read more
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - While residents of Evansville, Indiana, slept through the early morning hours, soldiers and civilians assembled on the campus of the University of Southern Indiana. The 700-plus participants of the 13th Annual Norwegian Foot March prepped their ruck packs in the campus gym. After the safety brief and route guidance, the first heat gathered at the starting line. At 7:30 a.m. sharp a cannon fired and the ruck-marchers began the 18.6-mile timed race Nov 1.
The Norwegian Foot March began in 2001, said Dr. Nils Johansen, an advisor at the University of Southern Indiana and founder of the march. Dr. Johansen wanted to bring an event to the Reserved Officer Training Course at USI that could benefit the school and all participants. The Norwegian military offered a badge for a foot march that simulates the experience of a Norwegian soldier in the field.
The badge, which started in 1915, can be earned by carrying a 25-pound pack across 18.6 miles in the allotted time. The time limit for this race is 4.5 hours for any male 34 years or below. The time limit increases for ages above 34 years and for females.
“The badge comes in bronze the first time you do it,” said Johansen. “Silver after four times and gold metal after eight times.”
Today, Maj. Christopher Dalrymple, assistant professor of military science at USI, leads the ROTC cadets in organizing this growing event. He points out reasons for the growing numbers of participants.
“This year’s extraordinary because it’s another record breaking year,” he said. “It has more than doubled, tripled, quadrupled since the start. In the humble beginnings we would only have about 10 to 15 participants. Now we’re sitting at over 700.”
One of the big motivations for registrants is the appeal of the badge one can earn.
“It’s an accomplishment to have a Foreign Service metal that’s authorized to wear on the ASUs,” said Dalrymple. “It’s a chance to earn something that’s unique in the military that you can’t find anywhere else. You get a Foreign Service metal from Norway. Where else do you get that?”
In addition to the growing numbers of participants, the march is also growing in community service. This year many participants packed their rucks with canned goods. At the end of their 18.6-mile hike they unloaded their packs and donated it to a veterans homeless shelter in Evansville, Ind.
"It was the Veterans of Foreign War’s idea,” said Larry Lightburne, a cadet commander with the USI ROTC. “It’s going to a good cause and it actually meant a lot taking that weight out right at the end of the ruck and getting to donate it to charity.”
Earning a metal and giving to charity give the event weight, but the deeper draw is the sense of accomplishment and support the event gives each soldier and civilian that crosses the finish line.
“You gotta do it at least once,” said Lightburne. “It teaches you a lot about yourself, what you’re able to do. It’s an incredible experience and it’s only getting better.”
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.03.2014 22:09 |
| Story ID: | 146892 |
| Location: | EVANSVILLE, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 1,719 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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