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***image1***Eleven members of Allied Air Component Command – Ramstein’s Marching Team, commanded by Maj. Thomas Belka, proudly entered Camp Charlemagne, officially completing the grueling four-day, 160+ kilometer International Four Day Marches – Nijmegen (Vierdaagse) July 19.
The event concluded with a 5-kilometer victory march for the review of civilian officials and general officers, into the heart of Nijmegen with 3,500 other military finishers. This victory march down Via Gladiola provided an opportunity for tens of thousands of spectators to shower all marchers – military and civilian – with flowers to express their admiration for each participant’s completion of the punishing event.
In prior years, a few members from CC-Air completed the Nijmegen Marches
individually. This was the first year CC-Air Ramstein entered a team to represent the headquarters. In addition to Major Belka (DEU), the multi-national team members included Lt. Col. Michael Kämmerer (DEU), Tech. Sgt. Lukas Pschyklenk (DEU), Staff Sgt. Jan Schroeder (DEU), Lt. Col. Wayne Goulet (USA), Capt. Darius Porebski (POL), Warrant Officer Pavel Rybka (CZE), Warrant Officer Josef Belka (CZE), 1st Sgt. Steve Schatteman (BEL), Maj. Jamie Cox (GBR) and Sgt. Rab Shepherd (GBR). The CC-Air Ramstein Team represented NATO along with teams from Brunssum, Geilenkirchen and Oberammergau.
The International Four Day Marches-Nijmegen is the largest marching event in the world. Depending on age group and category, participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily and receive the royally-approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis) upon completion.
The annual march began in 1909 as a Dutch Army activity to build infantry soldiers’ strength, stamina and morale. With only two interruptions over 99 years (1914 to 1915 and 1940 to 1945), the Nijmegen Marches have evolved into an international event attracting thousands of civilian and military participants.
***image2***In 2006, the marches were canceled after one day because the extreme heat resulted in thousands of drop-outs and two deaths. This year, 34,395 civilian and 4,037 military participants began the march. At the end of the fourth day, 31,473 civilian (92 percent) and 3,489 military (86 percent) marchers crossed the finish line.
For the military, the four-day Nijmegen Marches is primarily a team event to develop core military values such as leadership, teamwork and endurance. Each contingent must begin and end each day’s march with a minimum 11-man team. Military participants march more than 40 kilometers per day and must carry at least 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of weight.
Since civilians are not required to carry weight, the marches are more arduous for the military. During this year’s marches, 18 countries sent military teams. A few formations from Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany greatly exceeded the 11-man minimum with some contingents approaching 30 members or more.
On the first two days of the marches, the CC-Air Ramstein team began each day’s march with a 13-man contingent. However, due to two unfortunate injuries during the second day, two team members fell out of the formation, leaving the team with the minimum 11-man requirement for the last two days. During these two critical days, the team closed ranks and gutted-out each day’s march by closely monitoring the condition of each individual.
Team adjustments during the march included slightly slowing the marching pace and selectively choosing rest locations that oftentimes differed with the official Nijmegen rest areas. These planning and execution adjustments paid huge dividends as all 11 members who began the third day finished on day four and were able to revel in the self-accomplishment that comes from completing each of the four 40+ kilometer individual marches.
***image3***Particularly noteworthy were the efforts of Sergeant Lukas and Warrant Officer Belka who battled through painful foot and knee injuries on the last two days to complete the event. Furthermore, Sergeant Schatteman started the marches suffering from blisters from previous training events. His determination to complete the marches was an inspiration to the other team members.
As a result of the team’s extraordinary effort, the CC-Air Ramstein contingent was bestowed with the prestigious Nijmegen Military Team Award for the very first time.
Team support was provided by Sgt. Maj. Harry Weeber (NLD), 1st Cpl. Philip Ongenae (BEL) and Rob Riga (NLD). An often overlooked and underappreciated arm of each military team, this function played a critical role by ensuring water, food and medical support was continually available. By following the team throughout the entire course on a bicycle, First Corporal Ongenae provided basic supplies to team members while Sergeant Major Weeber and Mr. Riga provided a greater level of support at pre-planned checkpoints.
The toll on body and mind during the Nijmegen Marches cannot be understated. The event is not for the fainthearted. Extensive training and preparation by the CC-Air Ramstein team was crucial to the successful completion of the marches. The team began training in March and collectively marched more than 4,000 kilometers. During their training, individual team members completed the rugged 30-kilometer Saarland Marathon, marched 40 kilometers in torrential downpours during the Vogelweh Viking Challenge and averaged 25 kilometers per day during the four-day Dutch Volksmarch in Rodenbach.
After completing the Nijmegen Marches, all CC-Air Ramstein members wholeheartedly agreed that participation in the event was worth the pain. Team members exuded the confidence and personal pride that comes from undertaking and accomplishing a very difficult task.
Team unity and camaraderie only strengthened as the marches unfolded. When the team crossed the finish line at Camp Charlemagne, the team had developed an unbreakable bond, forged by the common hardship experienced by each member.
