Not Everything Goes as Planned: My Attempt at the Norwegian Foot March
Marsjmerket "March Badge"
Marsjmerket, which translates to "March Badge" in English, is more commonly known as the Norwegian Foot March (NFM) by the United States Military. It is a challenging endurance march or ruck. The origins of NFM date back to 1915 when it was created to test the marching endurance of the Norwegian Army. The Norwegian Army aimed to deploy larger units of troops over great distances quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the troops remained combat-ready even after carrying their rucksacks and weapons, which would have weighed 11 kg/24 lbs. Today, the goal is to promote rucking over long distances among military and civilian personnel.
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| Marchers are welcomed by the commander and get their final brief. |
While most modern militaries rely on vehicles and strategic infrastructure to move troops, foot marching, commonly known as rucking, remains a core component of military fitness, especially among European armed forces. In the United States, ruck marches are still used as physical assessment tools in certain units and military schools. A standard benchmark for the U.S. military is the 12-mile ruck march, which requires participants to carry a 35-pound dry pack and complete the distance in under three hours. While the 12-mile ruck march is a formidable challenge, the Norwegian Foot March (NFM) pushes those limits even further.
The official standards for the Norwegian Foot March are as follows:
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Weight Requirement: Military participants must carry a military rucksack with a dry weight of at least 11 kg (24 lbs)—not including water. Civilian participants can use a civilian-style rucksack.
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Uniform Requirements:
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Military personnel must wear authorized duty uniforms and boots, all per regulations.
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Civilians may participate in appropriate civilian attire, but must wear long pants and boots that together weigh at least 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs).
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Distance: The total course length is 18.6 miles (30 kilometers), completed by marching or running.
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Time Standard: Completion time is determined by age and gender categories.
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Verification: Rucksacks will be weighed both before and after the event to confirm compliance with dry weight requirements. Carrying a weapon is no longer mandatory.
The Route:
The course should follow an “out-and-back” format, utilizing a well-maintained path or dirt road suitable for foot traffic. A minimum of three hydration and food stations must be available along the route to support participants.
Outside assistance from non-participants is not permitted, except for official timing, weigh-ins, hydration/food stations, and designated medical aid stations.
The event must not be conducted if outdoor temperatures in shaded areas exceed 25°C (77°F) or fall below -15°C (5°F), to ensure participant safety.
Completion Certificate and Achievement Pins
Participants who successfully complete the Norwegian Foot March (NFM) within the required time for their age and gender categories will receive an official certificate and pin. The pin is authorized for wear on the Army Service Uniform as a foreign service award. Service members are responsible for submitting DA 4187 to obtain approval to wear the award.
While participants may attempt the march multiple times each year, only one pin can be earned per calendar year.
The pin progression is as follows:
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Bronze Pin – Awarded after completing your first successful march.
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Silver Pin – Earned upon your second successful year.
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Gold Pin – Awarded after successfully completing the march in five separate years.
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| Marchers are moving out at the start of the course. |
"Not Everything Goes as Planned"
That’s how I’d sum up my experience attempting the Norwegian Foot March.
Over the years, I’ve taken part in several foreign military marches, each one challenging in its own right. The Norwegian Foot March was the final test on my personal list, a goal I wanted to reach. I trained hard, both physically and mentally, and committed to meeting the standard. But sometimes, no matter how much preparation you put in, the day has other plans, which humble you.
As a retired service member, there’s no official reason for me to take on events like this, no military incentive, no required evaluation. My motivation is personal. The Norwegian Foot March is the only one I never participated in during my time in uniform, and now, as I am retired, it is my quest to complete this march.
It’s more than just the physical challenge. Participating helps me stay connected to the military community, and I especially enjoy the camaraderie with European NATO troops. That shared experience is one of the most rewarding aspects of these international military marches.
In the end, sometimes we just need to do hard things for ourselves, and the reminder of what we're still capable of.
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| The pack shoulder straps are a dead giveaway that I am rucking an old-school ALICE ruck. |
Lessons Learned
Throughout my military service, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the ALICE pack. That said, when it comes to rucking, I still consider it one of the best options out there. Both the medium and large ALICE packs include a built-in radio pocket, which is ideal for this kind of event. It lets you position weight high on your back, right where it should be for balance and efficiency.
While the ALICE pack works well in its standard form, a few thoughtful upgrades can make a big difference. Improvements like enhanced shoulder straps, a padded frame back panel, and an upgraded kidney belt can significantly boost comfort and reduce fatigue. I’ve also added a repair to the strap on the radio pocket, which showed wear.
Most Norwegian Foot March (NFM) events require participants to carry their own water. Based on my experience, having completed two DANCON marches, one Marche Internationale De Diekirch, and attempted the NFM, I’ve learned that I often carry more water than necessary. In practice, grabbing a bottle at aid stations along the route was much easier and lighter.
For the NFM, I carried a 3-liter Source bladder filled halfway, plus a bike water bottle in hand. In hindsight, there's a better hydration setup for the ALICE Pack: either a U.S. 2-quart canteen with a hose kit or a standard Nalgene bottle paired with a Swig Rig Wide Mouth.
Get your base pack weight as close as possible to the required minimum. As the saying goes, "Ounces equal pounds. Pounds equal pain." There's no reason to carry more weight than necessary.
If you search for Norwegian Foot March training plans, you’ll find programs ranging from 6 to 16 weeks, all progressing toward the full 18.6 miles (30 km). But for someone like me, simply logging the mileage leads to injury and leaves gaps in overall conditioning. I’ve since reevaluated my approach and plan to build an aerobic foundation through Zone 2 running before transitioning to rucking. During my last attempt at NFM, the course began with a mile of beach sand—an obstacle I encountered three times on the out-and-back route. With consistent zone 2 training, I aim to build the endurance needed to power through sections more efficiently.
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| Marchers start to spread out on the course. |
One thing I’ve consistently observed during these march events is that European troops tend to excel at them. Rucking is a core component of their military physical training, deeply integrated into their preparation for combat operations.
The Norwegian Foot March humbled me. But in that failure, I found something even more valuable than a badge: perspective.
Failure isn’t final, it's a lesson. An opportunity to become better than we were yesterday, and push forward with renewed purpose. I may not have earned the badge this time, but I walked away with insight, humility, and a deeper understanding of what it takes. And next year, I’ll be back to finish what I started and to earn that badge the hard way.
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