Nearly 700 cadets and soldiers representing 29 states and the District of Columbia have registered to participate. 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. Ages of participants will range from 18 to 67 and include both males and females.
WHERE:
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd., Evansville, IN 47712
A map of the route is available online.<https://www.google.com/maps/ms%3Fmsid=217745507790287748762.000502cee732cb2fe1ffd%26msa=0%26ll=37.929457,-87.671199%26spn=0.012051,0.022702%26dg=feature>
WHEN:
Saturday, November 1
Heat 1 at 7:30 a.m.
Heat 2 at 8 a.m.
Heat 3 at 8:30 a.m.
WHY:
Cadets and service members who complete the foot march in an allotted amount of time<https://www.usi.edu/media/3508531/NRM-Rules-and-Regs.pdf> will be awarded a certificate and a bronze badge for finishing, a silver badge
for finishing four marches and a gold badge for completing eight marches. This foreign badge is authorized for acceptance and wear on the Army uniform. Proceeds
from the Norwegian Foot March will benefit the USI ROTC program.
About USI’s Norwegian Foot March:
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. 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.
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.
A video from last year’s Norwegian Foot March can be found online.<http://youtu.be/oPYLqz-D-kY>
