Campus News
By Luca Filigenzi, Local News Editor
Xavier Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students tested their mental and physical strength while competing in a regional ruck march competition last Thursday.
A ruck march, which is sometimes referred to as a “challenge hike,” involves marching a great distance, usually with a considerable amount of weight on one’s back.
The ruck Xavier ROTC cadets competed in is officially known as the “Norwegian Foot March,” or “Marsjmerket.” This type of march requires a student to complete a 18.6-mile hike with 25 lbs. on their back.
Students got up bright and early at 4 a.m. to travel to Fort Knox, Ky. for the race. Starting the race promptly at 8 a.m., the students from Xavier and other schools from around the area trekked up and down hills and fought through their fatigue.
Xavier ROTC cadets competed in a Norwegian Foot March last Thursday to push their bodies to the limit and test their mental fortitude.
The Marsjmerket is renowned for its intensive nature and its sheer distance. For comparison, to complete army basic training, the longest ruck one must complete is officially 10 miles, which is just over half of what is required for the Marsjmerket. Many considered the Marsjmerket to be one of the most difficult foreign ruck marches an American can earn.
“I decided to do the Norwegian as a personal challenge as I’ve never done something like it before,” sophomore exercise science major and ROTC cadet Julia Flynn said. “I will definitely do it again next year if we get the opportunity.”
This ruck had several other requirements outside of just completing it. If someone was not able to keep up with the rest of the group and fell behind, they failed the ruck. Additionally, if participants were not able to finish in the required time of five hours, they would also fail the march.
It was not rare for marchers to fall out before reaching the finish line. The average completion rate for this ruck is estimated to be 35%.
Sophomore Philosophy, Politics and the Public (PPP) major William Coffman competed in the march and succeeded. Out of all the competitors, he finished sixth with a time of just three hours and 46 minutes and finished first out of all the Xavier ROTC cadets. Every Xavier student competing in the ruck this year completed the race.
Upon finishing the Norwegian march, successful competitors were honored with the Marsjmerket medal, a badge of honor reminding them of the difficulty of this test and of the long 110-year history of this internationally recognized march.
On the medal, a soldier from about 100 years ago is seen rucking through a field, showing just how long rucking has been around in the military.
“It was an awesome experience to be able to go out to Fort Knox. We all got the chance to push our bodies to do something most people can’t,” first-year finance major and ROTC cadet, Hudson Gehler said. “I would 100% do it again.”
