The March Against Hunger was based on a Norwegian military road march, the Norwegian Challenge, a speed and endurance test in which soldiers must cover a distance of 18.6 miles within a specified time, carrying 25 lbs. In the March Against Hunger, many of the soldiers carried food, which they donated upon reaching the finish line.
Initially envisioned as a small event with a 200-participant limit, the event proved so popular that the limit was increased to 400.
CPT. Alexi Franklin explains that he initiated this event as a new challenge for his soldiers: “I wanted to show the soldiers that you can accomplish some incredible things on a drill weekend,” he says.
The Norwegian military road march was first organized in 1915 in Norway as a test of a soldier’s ability to move quickly across the battlefield with a day’s worth of rations, and Col. Roy Abelsen, the military and assistant defense attaché for Norway, is proud to see a Norwegian military tradition in USA. “They wanted something to really challenge their guard men and we are pleased that our tradition could do this. It is our pleasure to give something back to the US armed forces after all the help they have given us through two world wars.” Col. Abelsen hopes that the March Against Hunger will become a tradition. Even though it was an exhausting challenge, many of the service members agreed that they would do it again.
Maryland National Guard press room
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