Photo By Cpl. Meshaq Hylton | U.S. Marines support Thomas Engen in preparation for Reistadløpet 2022 in Setermoen,...... read more read more
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SETERMOEN, NORWAY -- U.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment used winter survival skills and equipment to help prepare a portion of the 31-mile-long Reistadløpet 2022 ski route, building stronger community ties and validating their NATO-trained Arctic mobility skills in the process. The Marines utilized two Norwegian Army Bandvagns to compact this year’s tournament route surrounding Setermoen, where the race will begin and where 3/6 is based for Exercise Cold Response 2022.
U.S. Marines volunteered their services and equipment to support the tournament to show their gratitude and support to the Bardu municipality and the greater Norwegian community for allowing them to train in their back yard. This year marks 9th iteration of the biennial Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response and the return of the six-decade old Reistadløpet, which had been cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Thomas Engen, a Norwegian Home Guard veteran and Reistadløpet 2022 track committee member, reached out to the U.S. Marines from 3/6, requesting assistance with compacting the snow along the tournament’s course to allow the groomers to finish the track. Engen also shared this year’s race is expected to involve nearly 1,000 participants from across Norway and abroad, including World Champion and Olympic gold medalist from Norway, Therese Johaug.
“Compacting the snow in the track is essential to the performance and safety of the skier, especially in providing a dense track for skiers to compete on,” said Engen, who has been working with the track committee for several years.
U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Clayton Scott, a supply officer with 3/6 and the Camp Commandant of the U.S. Marine camp at Setermoen Leir, worked with Norwegian Home Guard personnel and Engen to facilitate the support. Scott, a native of Waterbury, Vermont, and an avid skier himself, stated he appreciated the opportunity to support the camp’s surrounding municipality. Scott quickly responded to the request of the track committee, stating that he was “glad the unit could be of service with our longstanding partners and the people we serve together.”
The Marines participating in Exercise Cold Response 2022 are expected to remain in Norway through March into early April 2022.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2022 04:57 |
| Story ID: | 416650 |
| Location: | SETERMOEN, TROMS, NO |
| Hometown: | WATERBURY, VERMONT, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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