USI's Norwegian Foot March will be record breaking

On Saturday, November 2, more than 500 cadets and soldiers representing 30 states will travel to the University of Southern Indiana to participate in the 12th Annual Norwegian Foot March. With a start and end point at USI, the 18.6-mile march will require individuals to march on a trail that covers a variety of terrain while dressed in military attire and carrying a 25-pound rucksack and frame. This year's event is the largest to date.

Sponsored by Dr. Nils Johansen, retired Norwegian Artillery Reserve Officer and USI University Division advisor, the Norwegian Foot March is a boot camp tradition for Norwegian soldiers.

"When the USI ROTC program began in 2001, I knew I wanted to help bring something special to the program," said Johansen, who holds a Norwegian Foot March badge in gold. "The Norwegian Foot March is a great challenge for cadets and is a typical boot camp activity for Norwegian soldiers."

ROTC cadets from Ball State University, Central Michigan University, IUPUI, Indiana University, Rose-Hulman, and USI, will participate. In addition, soldiers from the United States Army, including those stationed at Fort Benning, Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, Fort George G. Meade, Fort Leonard Wood, West Point, Fort Sill, and Camp Atterbury, will also be participating. States represented will include Alaska, California, North Carolina, New York, Texas, and more. Ages of participants will range from 17 to 51 and include both males and females.

Cadets and soldiers who complete the foot march in an allotted amount of time will be awarded a certificate and the bronze badge for finishing, a silver badge for finishing four marches, and a gold badge for completing eight marches.

USI President Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett will officially start the event by firing a cannon at 8 a.m. Awards will be distributed as participants cross the finish line.

Proceeds from the Norwegian Foot March will benefit the USI ROTC program.

For more information, contact Major Chris Dalrymple, commanding officer and assistant professor of military science for USI ROTC, at 812/461-5304 or cmdalrympl@usi.edu.

Watch a video from the 2012 Norwegian Foot March.