Running alongside Fort Carson soldiers on Norwegian Ruck March!
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – KRDO 13's Bradley Davis shadowed Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade (4CAB) Friday morning to bring us an exclusive look at their test of strength in a nearly 19-mile race against the clock.
"Some of them are really excited to do it. Some of them I can see are like, 'What did I sign up for?!'" said event organizer Lieutenant Tyler Gross.
Around 200 soldiers lined up for the brigade's first recorded Norwegian Ruck March. It's an 18.6 mile event in full combat gear and a weighted pack of at least 25 pounds. Participants have to beat a strict time limit based on age and gender to get the Norwegian Ruck march pin.
"It's really important to do hard things. War is about suffering. If I don't know how to endure suffering, I'm not going to be able to win the war," 4CAB Advocate Gracie Bozarth said. "That is countercultural. Our culture loves pleasure, but pleasure is contrary to being in the army, so we have to overcome that. We have to learn how to suffer."
The Norwegian Army developed the Norwegian Ruck March as a test during of its army's ability to move large forces quickly with all their gear during WWI. Lieutenant Gross has already done one and got his bronze pin. You can get a silver and gold for subsequent successes.
There is no upper weight limit. Watch to see how some soldiers "take advantage" of that.
