Mountain West Army Recruiting Battalion Norwegian Foot March

Come test your mettle at the Mountain West Army Recruiting Battalion's Norwegian Foot March, a challenging 30 kilometer race against the clock! This is your chance to earn a foreign military award from the Norwegian Army. Anyone can participate! Bring your canned foods to donate to the Bountiful Food Pantry! For an added challenge, carry your donations in your pack!

History of the Norwegian Foot March

The Norwegian Foot March was first held in 1915 as a test of marching endurance for soldiers in the Norwegian Army. The original intent of the march was to ensure the Army could quickly move large numbers of soldiers with their essential gear and weapons over long distances and remain combat-ready at their objective. Today, the march is still practiced by the Norwegian military, but also used to promote long-distance hiking and physical fitness among Norway’s allies and many civilian populations. The march requires participants to complete a 30-kilometer / 18.64-mile course while carrying a rucksack with a dry weight of at least 11 kilograms / 24.25 pounds within a prescribed time according to gender and age.

All participants who successfully complete the event with the required equipment in the allotted time standard will receive both a signed certificate from the Norwegian Embassy and an official Norwegian Foot March Badge as worn by the Norwegian Military. Badges will be awarded on site at the end of the event; certificates will be mailed to participants after they have been created. 

All participants are encouraged to donate canned food to the Bountiful Food Pantry. Donations will be collected at the start/end point in designated barrels. For more information on the Bountiful Food Pantry, click here.

0600-0745: Check-in, pack weighing, canned food collection

0745-0800: Event safety brief

0800: Foot march start

• Military members will wear their service's combat fatigues. Any camouflage pattern is acceptable, and uniforms will all be in accordance with applicable regulations. Civilians may wear any appropriate civilian attire and must also wear boots.
• A ruck weighing no less than 11 kilograms or 24.3 pounds. This is a "dry" weight and does not include any water. Weighted Vests are not authorized for this event. 
• A water source. There will be aid stations along the course with water and food, but you must also have at least one quart (one canteen) worth of water at the start of the race. Any type of container is acceptable (canteen, bladder, bottle, etc.)
• Time standards vary according to age and gender. Refer to the following chart:

Age Group     Women    Male
18-20       5h25m     4h35m
21-34       5h15m     4h30m
35-42       5h25m     4h35m
43-49       5h30m     4h40m
50-54       5h40m      4h50m
55-59       5h50m      5h0m
60+          6h0m        5h15m