USI's Norwegian Foot March attracts nearly 700 participants nationwide

Nearly 700 cadets and soldiers representing 29 states and the District of Columbia will travel to the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday, November 1 to participate in the 13th Annual Norwegian Foot March. With a start and end point at USI, the 18.6-mile course 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. Participation in this year's event surpasses last year's by 25 percent, making this the largest Norwegian Foot March since the events inception.

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.

"There are often badges that Norwegian soldiers can earn ranging from skiing (biathlon), to an expert infantry badge and various track and field events including modern pentathlon," said Johansen. "The foot march badge is considered a tough one, requiring physical stamina and mental capacity. It was instituted in 1915 and as a model, duplicates what a soldier could be expected to do in the field, move 30 km and carry a pack with rations. It is also easier to arrange since the badge does not have a marksmanship component, while the others either do or require special athletic equipment."

ROTC cadets from 20 institutions, including Ball State University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Illinois University, Indiana University, Indiana State University, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), IUPUI-Indianapolis, Kansas State University, Lakeview College, Michigan State University, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, University of Cincinnati, University of Indianapolis, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Toledo and USI will participate. In addition, individuals stationed at Camp Atterbury, Fort Benning, Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Drum, Fort Knox, Fort Polk, Fort Sill and Scott Air Force Base also will be participating. States represented will include Alaska, California, Hawaii, New York, Texas and more. Ages of participants will range from 18 to 67 and include both males and females.

This year's event will consist of three heats. Heat one will begin at 7:30 a.m., heat two at 8 a.m. and heat three at 8:30 a.m. Check-in will begin at 4:30 a.m.

Cadets and service members 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.

New for this year, participants may pack their rucksack with 25 pounds of nonperishable food items. Members from the American Legion Post 324, which is located on the USI campus, will collect the food at the end of the event and donate the items to Lucas Place II in Evansville. Lucas Place II is a permanent supportive housing complex for homeless veterans with disabilities.

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

A video from last year's Norwegian Foot March can be found online.

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.