Photo By Capt. Brandon Janson | Norwegian Army Master Chief Petty Officer, Vilhelm Rikstad (left), Norwegian Ruck...... read more read more
BAGHDAD--Members of the Joint Task Med 374 participated in the Norwegian Ruck March (NRM) last month, dredging through 18.6 miles of slippery mud, sand, and gravel. The event attracted nearly 100 participants from the seven Coalition Force countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Poland, Italy, and the Netherlands.
"Overall, it was a great challenge and a huge accomplishment," said Capt. Carla Schuit, Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Battle Captain, one of the participants who has been training since early August. "The wet terrain from all the rain added an extra spice to the event for sure. This event definitely made you tap into your mental and physical resiliency."
The endurance event is inspired by the Norwegian Army, which requires their military recruits complete as part of their initial basic training testing, physical strength and endurance. According to guidelines established by the Norwegian Armed Forces, found on their official website the first march was held in 1915 and was designed to improve the strength and durability of their troops during World War I. The big picture of the march was to be able to move large units over a long distance while remaining combat-ready at the end of the march. Other requirements for the event are wearing a combat uniform, military boots, and a rucksack (backpack) with a minimum weight of 25 pounds.
As a general rule, participants must complete the long haul in the four- and half-hour time block or less, equating to about 14 minutes and 30 seconds per mile. This time requirement is for males aged 18 to 34 and is further adjusted based on age and gender.
The top finisher for the event came from the Polish Coalition Force contingent, with an impressive time of two hours and 31 minutes.
"I heard about the ruck march through the MWR and heard you could earn a badge for completing it," said Capt. Janna Werley, EMT RN. "I did some training before and started feeling the wear and tear, so I backed off a little but kept going to the gym and working out."
Looking back on the race, Werley spoke about how bad the mud was and how much energy it took to walk through it. In fact, the mud was so bad the course had to be changed the morning of the march to try and minimize some of the flooded sections, but not all the areas could be rerouted.
Schuit attributed her success to the mud from the deadlifting she incorporated into her training.
"In Norway, the weather is not always in the best conditions for the march," said Master Chief Petty Officer Vilhelm Rikstad of the Norwegian Armed Forces, one of the validating representatives for the event. "The mud and standing water on this course were not optimal, but we were impressed by the good mood and spirit shown by the participants and the support staff. Completing the march in these harsh conditions proves it can be done and is a great accomplishment."
"It [the mud] just wore you out," said Werley. "Each lap, you would try and find the best route to go through it, and there just was just no good way to go through it. After a while, you just didn't care anymore, and you'd just walk right in the middle of it. I kept thinking I was going to fall, and if that happened, I was not even going to think about finishing. The fourth lap was probably the toughest for me, but when the last lap came around, I was motivated to finish and knew I was going to make my time. I was happy when I crossed the finish line. I think it was funny watching the other Coalition Forces smoking cigarettes at the beginning of the race, watching them ace it, and then start smoking again right after," laughed Werley.
The other U.S. and Coalition Forces have also been preparing for the event for several months now, gradually increasing their distance and weight-carrying capacity. Per command, Soldiers were offered various training programs to follow to better prepare and prevent Soldier injuries.
Rikstad shared similar advice stating that it is best to start training a few miles at a time and adjusting weight and distance. He also spoke about the importance of foot care and skin chaffing, especially during wet conditions.
"Preparing Soldiers was part of our CONOP for the event," said Spc. Alexander Fitzpatrick, one of the event's lead organizers. "Just to have the event, we had to present an approved training program to Maj. [Jason] Baumann, which then had to go up to Col. [Robert] Gregg. Public health also put out information on caring for blisters, stretching, and staying hydrated."
The event was hosted by the JTF MED 374 MWR (Morale and Welfare) team, requiring them to follow very strict procedures to validate the event. This required the team to be in close contact with the Norwegian contingency and validate each step of the planning process. The route of the march had to be determined, measured, and approved. To ensure that each of the participants were carrying the proper weight, scales had to be available prior to the event where the rucksacks were weighed before and after.
"Task Force Med 374 had everything planned and prepared for us to verify, as well as all the required documents when we arrived,” said Rikstad. "We could tell early on they had done a thorough job in their preparation. A big thank you to the MWR organizers for a successful event."
Due to the event's sheer demand on the body, other plans had to be prepared for to include periodic water and nutrition booths throughout the course, including emergency vehicles in the unlikely event of participants needing medical attention. After adhering to all the requirements, members of the Norwegian Armed Forces made a site visit on the day of the event to validate the event.
Upon their arrival, the Norwegian representatives, Major Eskild Larsen and Master Chief Petty Officer Rikstad, spoke to event participants sharing the history of the event and giving words of encouragement. While the purpose of their visit was to validate the event, they were not shy to cheer and clap for the participants as they completed each of the laps. Both have completed the NFM four times.
"The best thing to do for the march is to do it with a buddy and push each other," said Rikstad to the crowd. "You just want to encourage one another to keep going and stay on pace. It is also always more fun to go together," Rikstad said.
Schuit agreed, speaking to when she and her battle buddy Maj. Jason Baumann were nearing mile 15. "That's when I hit the wall. It was nice to just say, ok, we got this; just one more lap. The sugar-free red bull might have helped, too," she said.
After the event, the results of each of the participants were submitted to the Norwegian Armed Forces and higher command. Out of the 96 persons who initially registered, only 52 will be awarded the official Norwegian Foot March badge. They will also receive handwritten diplomas. A ceremony to present the badges has not yet been determined.
U.S. Soldiers are authorized to wear the badge on their military dress uniform that is pinned above the nameplate over the right breast pocket. U.S. Soldiers are authorized to wear a single foreign badge on their uniform. Badge colors worn represent how many times a Soldier has completed the march—bronze the first time, silver the second time, and gold for completing the march five times. Only one badge can be earned per year.
"It is great that Task Force Med 374 invited all the Coalition members," said Rikstad. "Sporting and morale events are a great way to interact between the different countries. In the NFM, you are not competing against each other; you are competing against yourself. The march itself is not always fun, but afterward, you should feel proud that you completed something not everyone else can manage. Making friends and buddies during the event can be the start of a long-lasting friendship. We hope to get an invitation to the other events."
"There was a lot of coordination we had to do," said Fitzpatrick. "Getting the CONOP approved, working with the commandant cell, the Department of State, and the Norwegian Armed Forces. In the end, the event was a success, and I think we accomplished our overall goal of increasing morale among the Task Force. It was a great capstone for the deployment."
| Date Taken: | 02.03.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 02.21.2023 09:49 |
| Story ID: | 438612 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 978 |
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