Today, we celebrate not just the more than 325 Soldiers who competed in the Norwegian Foot March early yesterday morning at Fort Sill, but also the U.S. Army JAG Corps’s very own CPT Justin Hayes and SGT Allan Nguyen—who orchestrated the whole shebang by themselves!
Embracing the JAGWAR mission, these individuals originally intended to support a Marsjmerket administration just for their colleagues in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Yet word of the March quickly spread around post, and their event exploded from an initial 18 marchers until it boasted participants from every unit on the installation!
And so it was that in the early morning hours of 30 April 2021—and with special permission from the Norwegian Embassy—Fort Sill’s most determined undertook the 18.6 mile ruckmarch with 25 lbs on their backs.
We spoke with CPT Hayes, who refused to accept any accolades. Instead, he graciously thanked the other participating battalions which provided critical logistical support for what is—by our estimation—the largest Norwegian Foot March of 2021.
According to CPT Hayes, 1-79 Field Artillery Battalion, 2-18 Field Artillery Battalion, and 1-30 Field Artillery Battalion responded in full force with medics and CLS personnel, water buffalos, tables, clocks, and more. That’s to say nothing of the 41 volunteers who worked the registration tables, kept official time, and manned the water points along the route.
Participants from PFC through LTC joined members from allied forces of Sweden, France, and Israel, as well as Cadets from both Texas Christian University and Baylor University, plus Army Reserve and National Guard personnel who travelled to Fort Sill specifically for the March. Of the original 325, 191 participants successfully earned the Norwegian Foot March badge.
CPT Shawn McKillip, Battery Commander of Charlie Battery, 95th AG Battalion, locked in the fastest male time at 3:16:23.
CPT Sarah Harvey, Legal Assistance Attorney, Fort Sill OSJA, did the U.S. Army JAG Corps proud with the fastest female time of 3:53:59. (Could she be our next JAGWARrior?)
SGT Nguyen and CPT Hayes did more than just manage this massive iteration of the NFM; they also led a class for their attorney and paralegal colleagues on the history of the event, proper rucksack packing, rucking form, basic first aid, foot care, nutrition and hydration, and recovery. They then led a training regime consisting of ruck marches two days per week every week for two months. Reportedly, 13 members of the OSJA competed; 9 of them successfully earned the badge.
SGT Nguyen and CPT Hayes are old hats when it comes to the marsjmerket; this was their third official competition. At 2300 on 29 April, they began setup and on-site registration, before stepping off at 0130, separating the 325 participants into 4 heats, 10 minutes apart, to help mitigate the COVID-19 risk.
CPT Hayes and SGT Nguyen, you bring great honor upon yourselves, the U.S. Army JAG Corps, and the Order of the JAGWAR. You’re a credit to the Fort Sill OSJA, and we commend you for your initiative… and your latest Norwegian Foot March success!