2023 Norwegian Foot March - Foreign Training Opportunity, Part III Thread
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Introduction and Event Background ANNNND we're back for the third and final thread of 2023! Since 2019 I've informally partnered with the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to organize the Norwegian Foot March for all branches and components of the Armed Services. Traditionally the event required the physical presence of a Norwegian officiator, but due to training and travel restrictions introduced by COVID temporary virtual endorsements were granted. While the event is comparatively rare due to the limited number of Norwegian officials within the United States, interest exploded from late 2020 to 2021 following the relaxation of officiation procedures. Interest continued well after training restrictions were relaxed and consequently Norwegian officials have granted a permanent virtual endorsement structure to enable US forces to partake in this century-old traditional training opportunity. Effective August 1st, 2021 US units anywhere in the world can request to conduct the Norwegian Foot March without an official present. I've started this thread to get the word back out for 2022 and 2023. Please feel free to spread the word and get this opportunity out there to anyone who's interested! It's a great event, especially when conducted with your friends and fellow servicemembers. We're incredibly lucky that the Norwegian Army is willing to share this great tradition with us and it reinforces our bond with an important NATO ally and friendly nation! Since 2019 more than 37,000 Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, civilians, and contractors participated in 427 Norwegian Foot March events in 25 countries and 37 states. The event has become so popular that Verdens Gang, the highest circulated newspaper in Norway, covered an event as part of nationally syndicated coverage on US interest: IMPORTANT: You must receive approval from the embassy prior to conducting this event! If your unit conducts this event, as a thank you to the embassy, please include four unit coins and four unit patches from any unit that participates. It's a small ask and the Norwegians appreciate the gesture for all the work they put into providing this opportunity for us. Certificates are currently distributed digitally so if you're able please send any tokens of thanks to the following address: Royal Norwegian Embassy ATTN: Defence Attache Office, NFM 2720 34th Street NW Washington, DC 20008 Old Threads - Lots of Questions Answered in Here! 2023 Norwegian Foot March - Foreign Training Opportunity, Part II Thread 2023 Norwegian Foot March - Foreign Training Opportunity, Part I Thread 2022 Norwegian Foot March - Foreign Training Opportunity, Part II Thread 2022 Norwegian Foot March - Foreign Training Opportunity, Part I Thread Upcoming Events - Updated 1 SEP 2023 - Updates Made Monthly or As New Events Confirmed Date - Location - Hosting Unit - Scale 7 SEP 2023 - JBLM, WA - 201 E-MIB - Medium-scale event - 100-250 Participants 9 SEP 2023 - Dyess AFB, TX - 7 MSG - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 16 SEP 2023 - Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ - 100 ARW - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 5 OCT 2023 - Tyndall AFB, FL - 325 FW - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants - Registration 30 SEP 2023 - Jordan - 40 ID - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 5 OCT 2023 - Fort Bliss, TX - WBAMC - Large-scale event - 500 Participants - Registration - Eventbrite - EVENT FULL as of 31 AUG 7 OCT 2023 - Laughlin AFB, TX - TBD - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 12 OCT 2023 - Bisl'a Air Defense School, Israel - SMDC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 13 OCT 2023 - Fort Novosel, AL - USAACE NCOA - Medium-scale event - 100-250 Participants - Event Flyer 13 OCT 2023 - Camp Mackall, NC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 21 OCT 2023 - Johnson City, Tennessee - East Tennessee State University ROTC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 21 OCT 2023 - Fort Sheridan, IL - USARMY MIRC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 21 OCT 2023 - Evansville, Indiana - USI ROTC - Large-scale event - 400 Participants - Registration 21 OCT 2023 - Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti - TBD - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 28 OCT 2023 - Fort Leavenworth, KS - MTC - Small-scale event - 100 Participants - POC [dakotah.k.bradley.mil@army.mil](mailto:dakotah.k.bradley.mil@army.mil) 28 OCT 2023 - Ogden, UT - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 28 OCT 2023 - Wallingford, CT - USAREC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 3 NOV 2023 - East Point, GA - 335 SIG CMD - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 3 NOV 2023 - Homewood, IL - 308 CA BDE - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 4 NOV 2023 - Camp Pendleton, CA - TBD - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 4 NOV 2023 - Fort Hunter Liggett, CA - 91 TSD - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 5 NOV 2023 - Darien, IL - 863 EN BN - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 8 NOV 2023 - Fort Chaffee, AR - 95 DIV - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 15 NOV 2023 - Fort Leavenworth, KS - USARMY CORRECTIONS BDE - Small-scale event - 100 Participants TBA NOV 2023 - Fort Jackson, SC - 2-98 IN - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 1 DEC 2023 - Houston, TX - UHROTC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 1 DEC 2023 - Washington, D.C. - USAR Legal Command - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 13 DEC 2023 - Kaneohe Bay, HI - USMC - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants 14 DEC 2023 - Hohenfels, Germany - Small-scale event - 50-150 Participants Confirmed / Completed World Events as of September 2023 Confirmed / Completed U.S. Events as of September 2023 2023 Event Statistics So Far - As of 1 September Participants: 13,083 Total Awards: 9,887
Historic Statistics 2022 - 11,376 Total Awards
2021 - 11,303 Total Awards 2020 - 374 Total Awards 2019 - 2,251 Total Awards Event Standards and Background The Norwegian Foot March, or Marsjmerket, was introduced in 1915 as a culminating training event for new conscripts and infantry soldiers. Traditionally, the event simulated overnight movement by a dismounted light infantry element. The element would occupy attack positions prior to daybreak and attack its objective at first light, fighting until it was successfully seized and only resting after consolidating its gains later that evening. The modern version of the march attempts to replicate this experience with the following requirements: 1. Complete the 18.6 mile / 30 kilometer course in the time allocated to their age/gender (see time standards below) 2. Complete the foot march using an issued or military-style ruck weighing a minimum of 11 kilograms / 25 pounds (dry weight). Alternatively, units can also require participants to carry their assigned weapon during the event. If carried, the total weight of the weapon and ruck must equal at least 11 kilograms / 25 pounds. The carrying of assigned weapons plus ruck is the preferred variant of the event. 3. Fulfill official duties for a full duty day following the completion of the event Participant Time Standards
Note - Rarely a formula-based system is used based upon the finishing times of the first 10 people. The embassy still utilizes the traditional metrics based on the difficulty it presents by closely mirroring the 1915 standards. Additional Event Requirements 1. Military participants must wear their duty uniform and boots. The civilian uniform is at the discretion of the organizer, but must be at least 1.5 kilograms / 3.3 pounds in weight. 2. Participants must be weigh their rucks (a standard weight for carried weapons can be established by the unit) prior to and after completing the event to ensure they fulfill the weight requirements 3. An official clock or timer is displayed at the start and finish line or a designated timer calls out the official time for participants and graders 4. Graders record each participant's finish time, starting ruck/weapon weight, and finishing ruck/weapon weight on an official roster 5. Event organizers must establish manned medical and water stations every 3.2 kilometers / 2 miles along the length of the course 6. Organizers create a medical evacuation plan based upon local conditions and potential issues 7. Conducted between -15 to 25 Celsius (5 to 77 Fahrenheit) and under no extreme weather conditions 8. The event occurs on unimproved roads or trails (waivable depending on location) Scheduling Procedures In order to conduct an event, units must submit a request prior to execution. There are three products that must be completed: Norwegian Foot March Event Organizer Checklist - Use this checklist to create your event CONOP. You must still fill it out and submit it along with your CONOP!
Event Map / CONOP - Create in Powerpoint, Submit as PDF Event Endorsement Request Memo - This item tends to get a lot of questions. It's really just a MFR identifying your unit, organizing official, core details of the event, and a request for approval from the embassy to conduct the event. Once complete all documents must be sent to the email addresses in the excel spreadsheet. If you need a set of Army eyes to look over your products prior to submission please feel free to ping me for my .mil address (address in dropbox). You can download the spreadsheet and guidelines documents here: Dropbox Folder with Documents Event Cost and Results Submission Conducting the event itself is free, though depending on whether you want to provide participants with drinks, snacks, or other support you may want to consider a small fee. Certificates will be delivered digitally by the embassy to the organizer after a closeout report is submitted. Organizers can then print them at their unit using cardstock or use a commercial process such at that listed below. Badges cost $10 (Bronze), $15 (Silver) or $20 (Gold) and some units have previously had participants pay beforehand so that they can awarded the same day. I recommend not buying badges ahead of time due to the historic failure rates. Individuals and units can place orders after the event concludes and receive their badges within just a few days. That way you don't need to worry about refunds or other administrative headaches. You can check the current pricing of badges here: https://www.awardworldtrophies.com/store/Norwegian-Foot-March-Pin-Bronze-p487026529 Post-Event Instructions - Certificate and Badges There is only one commercial supplier I know of within the United States: Award World Trophies in Evansville, Indiana. You can place an order by calling 812-425-4571 and inquiring about Norwegian Foot March badges. Cost per badge varies depending on the quantity ordered. Ensure you specify what types of badges you want (Bronze, Silver, or Gold). Certificates The embassy will share the certificate with the organizer after receiving the post-event memo (see my dropbox link). The organizing unit is responsible for producing the certificates from the template and shipping them to the embassy for signature. Instructions on how to prepare the certificates and order them via Staples printing service follow:
Frequently Asked Questions Do some units also hold a food drive with this event? Yes! Many units encourage participants to carry a partial or full weight load of nonperishable food stuffs and goods that are turned in after the event. In the past several years numerous units have collected between 2,300 - 8,700 lbs of food that was donated to local shelters and food banks, giving back to their local communities and people in need. What's the Record for Fastest Completion? According to the Norwegian Defense Academy, Roger Gjøvaag, a former track and field athlete, completed the event in 1h 56m 57s in 1984 at Krigsskolen. Is there a larger version of the badge? No. Occasionally people will report seeing a 1" to 1.5" version of the badge and ask how they can get that version. This is an unauthorized modification of the original medal presented several decades ago that a few people have turned into a badge. Military badges and skill insignia from Nordic countries are traditionally small in nature and the .75" version is accurate. How many successful marches are associated with each badge type? Current Award Scheme Bronze - 1 completed foot march Silver - 2 to 4 completed foot marches Gold - 5+ completed foot matches Former Award Scheme - Replaced in 2016 Bronze - 1 to 3 completed foot marches Silver - 4 to 6 completed foot marches Gold - 7+ completed foot matches Where Can I Get An Official Translation of the Certificate? As requested I've generated translations for bronze, silver, and gold certificates. They are in PDF form as they're just reference documents. They can be found in my Dropbox link: Where Can I Get An Example DA Form 4187 to Request Permanent Wear and Retention? Norwegian Foot March Badge - https://www.dropbox.com/s/0v6g97hxpqzznr4/Example%20NFM%20DA%20Form%204187.pdf?dl=0 Select Photos - 2023 Event Series 2-58 Infantry Battalion - Fort Moore, GA 2-13 Aviation Battalion - Fort Huachuca, AZ 2nd Infantry Division - Camp Humphreys, South Korea 5th Armored Brigade - Fort Bliss, TX United States Military Academy - West Point, NY Virginia Military Institute, Virginia 11th Military Police Brigade - Fort Hunter Liggett, CA Central Washington University ROTC, Washington Naval Air Station Misawa, Japan 11th Airborne Division - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska [link] [comments] |
