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 NY Army Guard unit Hosts Norwegian Foot March in Africa By Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector,
                Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
 CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and multinational partners participated in a Norwegian Foot March at Camp Lemonnier Dec. 16. CJTF-HOA’s Task Force Wolfhound, comprising New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the Manhattan-headquartered 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, and augmented by Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, hosted the event. “It’s important to conduct this kind of training because it builds rapport and cohesiveness between all of the units and organizations that volunteered to help and participate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Caba, the Task Force Wolfhound training and foreign liaison noncommissioned officer. “It also strengthens the bonds between us and our foreign partner forces.” The Norwegian Foot March was first held in 1915 as a test of marching endurance for Norwegian soldiers. Participants were required to ruck 18.6 miles while carrying a 25-pound rucksack in military uniform. Those who completed the ruck within the designated time standard earned a Norwegian armed forces skill badge and a certificate from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. The event was capped at 115 participants, including U.S. Airmen, Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and French, Italian, and Japanese service members, with 98 finishing within the time standard. Caba, who has previously completed the event back in New York, believes the austere location contributed to the event’s difficulty. “I think the weather and humidity played a significant role,” Caba said. “If you’re considering attempting the Norwegian Foot March, my suggestion would be to adjust to the climate first and foremost.” As an official event sponsored by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Caba coordinated with the government of Norway to obtain approval to host the march. “I had to gather a vast understanding of the event standards and build a route,” said Caba. “I then submitted the plan to the attaché at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C., for approval.” Many participants found themselves out of their comfort zone while attempting the march. “I’ve always hated rucking,” said Capt. Nina Skinner, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, communications officer. “For me, it just always meant pain, so I try to avoid it as much as possible.” Skinner was the first female participant to complete the event, finishing in 3 hours and 58 minutes. “When I joined the 69th, I rucked a little bit in New York City, but I still hated it,” said Skinner, a native of Kodiak, Alaska. “So I went into this expecting to hate it. I honestly grew to like it a little bit, which is surprising. It’s a strange love-hate relationship now.” Skinner, who arrived in Djibouti earlier this year, believes being on deployment contributed to her success. “Here, it had to be all for myself, and it all had to be about self-fulfillment,” Skinner said. “I wouldn’t have done as well, I think, back home. Too many distractions to train.” Task Force Wolfhound will host more Norwegian Foot March events until their deployment in the Horn of Africa ends in the spring.
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  New York Army National Guard
 Norwegian Foot March
 Horn of Africa
 
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