23 The weekends usually mean a time to catch up on sleep and relax before the next week ahead. For nearly 1,500 cadets, staff and faculty at the U.S. Military Academy, the weekend for them meant an opportunity to participate in the grueling Norwegian Foot March over the course of several days on April 3, 11 and 25.
The Norwegian Foot March, also known as Marsjmerket, is an armed forces skill badge earned after completing an 18.6-mile foot march while carrying a 25-pound rucksack in under 4.5 hours. The march was first held during World War I in 1915 to test the strength and endurance of the Norwegian military while exposing them to conditions they could expect in combat. To this day, the foot march remains a test of endurance and allows U.S. Soldiers an opportunity to earn a foreign badge.
DVIDS - News - Minnesota Guards Woman Ready for Deployment
dvidshub.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dvidshub.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
1,100 Minnesota National Guard soldiers will be deployed to Middle East
kttc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kttc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
More than 1,000 Minnesota Guardsmen to deploy to the Middle East
Submitted
Crookston Times
Approximately 1,100 Soldiers from Task Force 1-194 are preparing to deploy to the Middle East for a nine-month mission in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
While deployed, the Soldiers will mobilize and resume responsibilities within the CENTCOM Area of Operations assuming the Operation Spartan Shield response force mission.
“This task force will bring together Soldiers from several units across the state,” said Lt. Col. Jacob Helgestad, commander of Task Force 1-194. “Our Soldiers are well-trained and ready for this mission and I’m confident they will represent the State of Minnesota well.”