Photo By Sgt. Breeanna Pierce | A U.S. Soldier participating in the Maryland Army National Guard's March Against...... read more read more
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LA PLATA, Md. – Nearly 500 service members, civilian first responders and community members gathered for the first Norwegian Challenge: Maryland Army National Guard’s March Against Hunger, in La Plata, Md., today.
The Maryland National Guard partnered with the Norwegian Military Attaché’s Office to ensure that the challenge – an 18.6-mile ruck march, carrying 25 pounds across various terrains – met all the challenging criteria for Norwegian standards.
“This march started in 1915; it is a test of a soldier’s ability to move quickly across the battlefield with a day’s worth of rations,” said Col. Roy Abelsen, the assistant defense attaché for Norway.
Initially, the challenge began as a way for Soldiers of the 253rd Engineer Company to improve and test their soldier skills and capabilities.
“I wanted to show the soldiers that you can accomplish some incredible things on a drill weekend,” said Capt. Alexi Franklin, the unit commander.
When Franklin brought the idea of the Norwegian Challenge to his superiors, the event grew into a way for Guardsmen to connect with the community.
“I told him that it was a great idea, but it needed to be tied to the community,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Reale, commander of the 581st Troop Command Battalion. "For 10 years, this community and many communities across the country have supported National Guard soldiers deploying. Now it's time for us to give back."
The Mayor of La Plata, Roy G. Hale, welcomed the opportunity to work with the National Guard, especially in producing an event for a great cause: feeding the community’s hungry.
“We all strive to combat and overtake this terrible [problem] within our country and throughout the world,” Hale said, addressing the participants before the march began. “It is truly heart-warming to see what you all are doing today.”
Teaming up with the town of La Plata not only created a wonderful event, but it also strengthened relationships for the future.
“This has become a joint interagency operation between all the first responders, so if anything happens, we’ve already made those connections down here because we’ve worked together,” Reale said.
More than just National Guard members registered to participate in the event. Service members from every branch and component registered to challenge themselves.
“It sounded like fun,” Capt. Drew Deal, the operations officer for 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), said as he and his three-man team prepared for the ruck march. “I mean, what better way to pack a ruck than for a good charity.”
Although the 18.6-mile march was challenging and exhausting, many service members agreed that they would participate again.
“We don’t get many opportunities like this in the National Guard,” said Spc. Vincent Melemai, B Company, 29th Infantry Division, “We can’t pass up these opportunities to promote fitness while getting involved with the community.”
| Date Taken: | 03.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2013 13:57 |
| Story ID: | 103670 |
| Location: | LA PLATA, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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