Courtesy Photo | U.S. and Korean service members from around the world ruck in the Norwegian Foot March...... read more read more
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OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – The morning began with fog and energy.
At 3 a.m., over a thousand people gathered on Osan Air Base – rucks secured, headlamps flickering, conversations buzzing with nerves and excitement. You could hear encouragement being passed down the line, last-minute gear checks, teammates wishing each other luck.
The first 5K unfolded in near-total darkness, just headlamps and heavy breathing cutting through the cold morning air. Shadows stretched long on the pavement and every footfall echoed with anticipation. The quiet tension made the course feel heavier, like each step carried not just weight but also silent contemplation. Can I really do this? Will we all make it?
And then the sun rose.
As light broke over the mountains and spilled across the runway, the air shifted.
This wasn’t just a race. It was reverence.
The Norwegian Foot March, a 30-kilometer course completed with a 24-pound ruck and strict time standards based on age and gender, was created in 1915 to prepare Norwegian soldiers for the rigors of war. Over the years, it’s become a globally recognized test of endurance, resilience and grit.
And this year, on May 17th – Norway’s National Day, it became the largest resiliency event ever held in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Among the sea of rucks and headlamps, 53 participants from across Kadena Air Base stood together, joining over a thousand other competitors from different branches, professions, and countries. Not just for the badge, but for something deeper.
They didn’t come as individuals. They came as a team, forged through months of early mornings, Thursday meetups, shared struggles, and collective purpose.
They trained together in Okinawa during the months leading up to the event. Through evening rucks, soaked uniforms, aching feet, and moments of doubt. What started as accountability became friendship and an individual challenge quickly became something they didn’t have to face alone.
“What kept me going is the pull of the people around me,” said Airman 1st Class Mason Maness-Baird, 18th Comptroller Squadron budget technician. “Every week we met for rucks. I just wanted to prove it was possible.”
“Every time I saw someone today from Kadena, I’d smile and say something,” added U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kylie Glover, 18th Operations Group senior enlisted leader executive assistant, who pushed through setbacks and beat her goal time. “That camaraderie helped more than I expected.”
They didn’t all come with the same story. But somewhere between mile markers and pain thresholds their stories started to overlap – interwoven with grit, laughter and encouragement.
Some marched for milestones.
“My goal was to earn the badge,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Otto Yan, 18th Operations Support Squadron division chief of C2 plans and integration. “I learned I could push beyond what I thought I could, especially after turning 40 last week.”
Others marched with memory.
“I did this ruck as a remembrance of Shell 77,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Duckett, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. “Three aviators died that day – including my mentor. It was a privilege to suffer with teammates.”
And some, like Capt. Mark Bradshaw, 18th Operations Group True North group chaplain, were there to lead, but also to heal.
“I stumbled into endurance sports after a broken engagement—like Forrest Gump,” he said. “It became a lifetime love and critical for my resilience. Now it’s about passing that [passion] on.”
“You can do more than you think,” he told the team. “When you dig deep, you find spiritual encouragement.
“That’s what this is about.”
As the kilometers wore on, the course became quiet. Not from a lack of noise, but from the inward focus required to keep going. Every ache, every doubt, every step became a lesson in resilience.
“That race was one of the most challenging things I’ve done physically and mentally,” said Glover. “When your mind was telling you to give up, you had to keep your body moving.”
A member from another unit collapsed just meters from the finish – legs locking, body giving out after hours of pushing through pain. Without a word, a teammate rucked up beside them, reached under their arm, and helped carry them forward. Both still wearing every pound. They crossed the line together.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t loud.
But it was unforgettable.
No one was left behind. Not at the start – not at the finish.
At the heart of the event was the story of the Four Chaplains—military clergy who gave away their life jackets after a German U-boat sank the USS Dorchester during World War II. They chose selfless service over survival, locking arms in prayer as the ship went down.
“The Four Chaplains showed us what selfless leadership truly looks like,” Bradshaw said. “Laying down everything – not for glory, but for others. That’s the kind of leader I want to be.”
Their faces were engraved on the commemorative buckle awarded to each finisher, surrounding the Norwegian Foot March badge and cast from the same metallurgy used in Korea’s Friendship Bell.
“Just one buckle,” said Capt. David Bartlett, 51st Fighter Wing chaplain, “It represents three nations and a shared commitment to something greater.”
He made it clear what the event truly represented.
“Resilience is not a class,” he said. “It’s not a slideshow. It’s this. It’s doing something hard with your team and finishing it together.”
That same spirit of unity was echoed by the Minister Counsellor Mr. Joon Grane Hetland, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian embassy in Seoul, who spoke during the award ceremony.
“Today is our National Day,” he said. “Our Constitution was influenced by yours. And today, you’ve made this celebration your own.”
He also brought with him a message from Norway’s royal family.
“Her Majesty the Queen sends her very best wishes to all friends of Norway here in South Korea,” he said. “By taking part in today’s march, you’ve become one of us.”
As the final participants crossed the line – some limping, some crawling, many leaning on each other – there was no doubt what had been built out there.
Team Kadena didn’t just complete the march.
They carried each other through, and they lived the legacy.
They proved without question that resilience is something you do together, and they left even stronger – not as teammates but as something more akin to a family.
They didn’t just finish.
They finished – whatever it took.
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2025 22:30 |
| Story ID: | 499140 |
| Location: | OSAN AIR BASE, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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