Photo By Master Sgt. Paul Wade | DANCON Marchers enjoy what little flat ground the Mitrovica area provided. Locals...... read more read more
CAMP OLAF RYE, Kosovo -The DANCON March is not a nickname for how the Danish military walk, nor is it a part of a Scandinavian military parade tradition. According to the flyer sent out to all multi-national task force soldiers stationed in Kosovo, it is a 15.6 mile (25.2 kilometers) walk over rough terrain, carrying at least 22 pounds (10 kilograms), and must be completed within eight hours.
Well maybe 'walk' isn't the right word for the DANCON (Danish Contingent). It's more like a hike on gravel, asphalt and dirt roads, through villages and over mountain trails. At the beginning of the hike it might appear like a leisurely stroll in the mountainous region of northern Kosovo near Mitrovica, but for some it becomes a guaranteed ticket to the aid station to become a member of the walking wounded.
"I did prepare my feet for any potential hot spots or blisters. I'm wearing moleskin and I'm wearing special socks," said 1st Lt. Kevin Marshall, the executive officer for Headquarters Headquarters Company, Task Force Falcon. "I learned from my mistakes over the years doing ruck marches. I should get through this without too many injuries," said Marshall, who was anxious about the longest military march of his career.
The Danish might have pulled a little magic trick on us. For those of you who don't know much about the Danish, they originate from the country of Denmark. This Scandinavian country is south of Sweden and Norway and north of Germany. The Northern European country is a large peninsula, jutting into the Baltic Sea and its name Denmark, which according to many handbooks, literally means 'flat land'.
So how is it that a country with only a high elevation of 560 feet gets to host an event that draws in thousands of participants, willing to test their endurance, ready to subject their feet to the punishment of climbing over a 2600 foot mountain?
It is because the Danish think big. Despite its modest size, Denmark has been participating in major military and humanitarian operations, most notably the United Nations and NATO led operations on Cyprus and in Bosnia, Korea, Croatia, Kosovo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. It was on Cyprus, a mountainous Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey, that the DANCON March was created and has been a tradition with the Royal Danish Army since 1972.
It was only fitting then that the approximately 300 Danish Defense forces deployed in support of the MNTF KFOR 11mission would inherit some of the Kosovo regions high ground. It was those same rolling hills, surrounding the Danish headquarters, Camp Olaf Rye, which kept the early morning sun's warming rays hidden from the more than 1,500 eager participants ready to tackle the second DANCON March, offered in 2009.
Despite the chilly air in early June, soldiers from more than 15 nations stood together with security and police forces from throughout Europe at the starting line. It looked like a shifting sea of colorful berets, flag-draped packs, clashing camouflage patterns, and assorted adornments to give them luck, moving back and forth waiting for the countdown to begin.
Many troops had taken part in the first march and were either attempting to best their time or give moral support to a first-timer. Those who remember well the impact it had on their bodies were glad to offer guidance and tips on how to avoid the worst mistakes; the biggest enemy being the hatred blister.
"Don't run down the hills," said Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Dietel, on what his suggestion was to avoid foot injuries. "I'm back for a second time because I was talked into it. It is like a competition," said the Personnel Services Center Senior non-commissioned officer.
As some teams made last minute adjustments of straps and weight after placing their load on the official scales to get checked off, the sun crested the tops of the nearby mountains and the referee signaled the start of the 'race'.
It might as well been a race as some teams bolted from the line and kept running until they were out of sight. Most though began at a relaxed pace, spirits high, and used the time to get to know the person to their left and right. The DANCON March is also intended as a social event. Some take this to a heightened state of entertainment by trading patches, taking photos, playing favorite music from mini-speakers latched to their pack or in some cases carry an additional 22 pound boom box.
"This march is crazy," said Dietel, "I'm really looking forward to all the outfits and things people bring with them. I saw a guy with a stuffed chicken last time."
"I would like to meet a lot of the KFOR and NATO forces and just see what training they did to prepare for this and build some camaraderie," said Marshall. "It is going to be a lot of fun with great people."
By the time the dust settled from exiting the camp the throng of marchers had spread out, clearly separating those looking to compete for time and those just wanting to say they did the DANCON. At the six mile marker when the asphalt surface turned into a dirt road and began heading up a mountain pass, many smiles were replaced by concerned, determined looks. The heat of the sun finally broke the cold spell and people began modifying their uniform or shedding clothing.
As the middle of the pack was summiting the highest point of the hike Goralzd Drevensek, a private in the Slovenian army, was crossing the finishing line with an all-time record of 2 hours, 4 minutes.
"Today is a beautiful day, especially because I won," said Drevensek, who is in communications and works in a radio station. "This is my first time at this and I made a new record. Everything was good. Now I will get some food and drink and celebrate with my comrades."
A scattering of well-fit soldiers from many nations followed including Frenchmen, Stephan Jami, at 2 hours, 12 minutes, and Portuguese, Santos Logs, a close third with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes. During the entire march they rarely walked and never stopped.
The first U.S. Soldier to return full circle was Maj. Michael Johnson with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes. The 50-year-old member of the California National Guard triathlon team wanted to beat his time from the first DANCON he did in May and ended up topping the first place winner from that march, Lt. Col. David Kauffman, the MNTF-E Command Judge Advocate from Camp Bondsteel, and a fellow 'Golden State' guardsman, who ran it in 2 hours, 48 minutes.
"I didn't do that well last time and couldn't catch [Kauffman]. I was hoping he would be here to run with because I felt better on this try," said Johnson, a military assistant to the COMKFOR POLAD (Political Advisor) in Film City, Prishtina. "I've put thousands of miles of abuse on my feet so I was ready for this. My plan was I'd run for five minutes and walk for one," said Johnson, who credited better weather on this go-round as being a factor.
Representing Camp Bondsteel on this march, for the officers, was 1st Lt. Stan Skaw, a pilot from Task Force Arctic Eagle, with a time of 3 hours, 8 minutes and for the enlisted, Sgt. Arjuna Hughes, from Liaison Monitoring Team 4, coming in at 3 hours, 17 minutes.
The aftermath that followed once the last participant crossed the finish line or returned to the camp via the ambulance was filled with elation or pain. Some, like Drevensek, walked around like it never happened. Others hobbled around on huge blisters and peeling skin for at least a week.
However, everyone who completed the DANCON March that day felt proud and part of something big, part of a tradition. There is that magic in the air when you can share with someone something that you will remember for the rest of your life. It lifts language barriers and it is the true sense of camaraderie.
"I really enjoyed meeting all the different nations and had a great day," said Lt. Col. Alexander Willing, the deputy commander of the Maneuver Battalion for the German army in Prizren.
The Danish will be the first ones to invite anyone to participate in their DANCON because everyone is eligible. Those that have done it will be the first ones to tell you that results may vary.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2009 03:21 |
| Story ID: | 36923 |
| Location: | CAMP OLAF RYE, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 1,453 |
| Downloads: | 497 |
This work, The DANCON March: for the fit, for the fanatic and for the fun of, by MSG Paul Wade, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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