Page 94 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Nijmegen Nijmegen Marches 2018

Marches 2018 By Private Papa Yaw Nyamekye

In July, Corporal Sujan Gurung, Sergeant Salom Duma and myself from 1
By Corporal George Aldridge Armoured Medical Regiment embarked on the 102nd International Four
Day Marches from Nijmegen. This annual event is the largest multiple day
The Nijmegen Marches is a four day marching event that consists of weighted march in the world with an aim of promoting sport and exercise.
participants completing 160 kilometres of walking carrying 10 kilograms
excluding food and water.
The Task in Hand
The
Our team consisted of 12 members of whom three were from the medal

detachment. We trained over many weeks culminating with a final
The Challenge We travelled into Nijmegen Town centre on the first night training session of 40 kilometres weighted march in eight hours. Our

to meet countless live music stages, a funfair and endless
During the early part of 2018, a member of the detachment supplies of food and drink stalls. The next three days task was to March 100 miles over four days carrying weight with a
12 hour time limit each day. I am happy to say we made it and even
decided to take on the challenge of completing the consist of enjoying one of the biggest festivals Holland has conducted a five kilometre parade lap in the City on the final day.

Nijmegen Marches. Unfortunately for me the battalion to offer prior to taking the enduring event. We managed

has not put in a team in recent years and the only way to to lose two individuals due to illness. The first two days of Early Start
complete the event was to organise the team myself. marching went by fairly routinely, with the whole team
well aware that they had already achieved this mileage 41,000 people including hundreds of soldiers from many nations
Qualifying in order to qualify. The second evening is where the sore started at first light and it wasn’t long before it was our turn to head

feet and copious amounts of blisters took their toll. We
lost our nominated team leader and were down from the out from the City. It was an exciting moment and an opportunity to
In order to get a qualifying route that met the eleven we started with to eight. The third day of marching put our military discipline to test. I enjoyed the cool morning starts
requirements I was fortunate that the Unit Welfare Officer is known as the hills day and even in the Netherlands, they and was amazed by the people of Holland. We were met at 4.30 in

of a local Unit had organised the event 14 times from managed to find some hills to test us. the morning by locals cheering us on and we really felt the support.

Germany and allowed me to qualify with his team. The It was incredibly tough, but made easier by being part of a team Papa Yaw
only downside to this was that I had to complete the 50 and with a target to achieve. It tested all members mentally and Nyamekye setting

mile qualifier twice. We started the qualifiers with 15 Last Day physically. It is an experience we will never forget. off on the first day’s

individuals and lost two to injury and a further two were The last day was probably the hardest, but you are kept march out of the
lost after qualifying to assignments prior to the main My Experience City
event. on your feet by the thousands of locals giving out sweets,

drinks and plenty of high fives from the local children. By Corporal Sujan Gurung
Every town throughout the four days was more than
Main Event accommodating, ensuring we were fed and had music to We were accommodated at Heumensoord Military camp which
listen to, normally comprising of live bands and singers. At reminded me of Camp Bastion. It was a temporary town made of
The only way to describe the Nijmegen Marches in a the end of the military distance we were given our medals, brown canvas. We awoke early each morning still aching from the
nutshell is ‘surreal’. We arrived as a team on the Saturday but knew that we still had a further eight kilometres until previous day. Once we get to the start line, there was hundreds of
prior to the event to register (The event starts on Tuesday). the civilian finish line. other marchers preparing and our military mentality would kick

in; ready to tackle this day head on. It was simply great to be part
of the atmosphere and I felt very proud. A never ending medley of

music and generous people offering food and drinks added to such a
wonderful event whilst representing the Corps.
Leader’s Experience
By Sergeant Salom Duma
The positive attitude displayed by our team made my job easier; we
all supported and looked out for each other when times grew harder.
I found the biggest challenge was motivating and encouraging
individuals when injuries started to creep in. As a team leader you

want to get all your team through to the finish, but you can only
go as fast as your slowest man. I enjoyed the city and its beautiful
wooded surroundings. We laughed, we smiled, we partied, we had
giant blisters, but this vanished when the crowds cheered and lifted
us.
Final Word
By Private Papa Yaw Nyamekye
The I meet a lot of great people from so many nations. I realised that The team
marching soldiers are soldiers regardless of where they're from or what country with
their
team they're serving. There are a lot of things we have in common, and we medals
are all incredibly proud the wear the uniform of our country.
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