U.S. - Official Military Delegation

The U.S. is one of the eleven Official Military Delegations.  The other official delegations are Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, Germany, the UK, Sweden, and Switzerland, along with the host nation of the Netherlands.

Rules and Regulations

The U.S. military delegation respects and follows the rules of the host nation. 

 

Camp Heumensoord is a Royal Netherlands Military installation where the U.S. Delegation participates respectfully as guests. All U.S. participants should also respect the cultures of other nations participating in the camp.

 

Registration is open to all branches of service: Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and Navy. Members must have an official ID showing active, reserve/guard, retired, or ROTC status.  Uniformed participants must be at least 18 years of age to lodge at the camp.

Uniform Requirements

All U.S. military marchers are required to be in an authorized uniform dependent upon your branch and unit regulations.  

Military marchers are also required to wear headgear when entering any town during the march. Outside of town/city limits, marchers are permitted to stow headgear. 

There are generally no uniform exceptions allowed for the U.S. military. In the event a marcher is given medical permission by a military medic/doctor to deviate from standard uniform requirements, this will be allowed.  An example would be a boot/shoe change due to medical reasons.

 

All members of a Team should be prepared to march in similar uniforms and headgear. This is especially required during the "Defilé or Via Gladiola" on the final day coming into Nijmegen.  There is a large reviewing stand with Generals, Ambassadors and possibly even the King of the Netherlands.

Military Ruck Weight Requirements

U.S. Military marchers participating from Camp Heumensoord have specific ruck weight requirements. 

Sand for fill and weigh scales are generally available on camp for the purpose of preparation and control.  During the march, inspectors along the route routinely weigh the marcher's ruck to determine whether weight requirements are being met.  

 

Rucks worn must meet U.S. military uniform standards.  If it isn't authorized, you can't use it during the march.

 

WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS

Males 49 Years old and younger -- 10kg

Males who turn 50 any time during the event or are older -- No weight requirement

Females of all ages -- No weight requirement

Team or Individual Marcher

Marchers may choose to participate either in a Team or as returning Individual Military marcher.  Regardless of choice, the routes marched, as well as the medal and certificate, remain the same.

 

Team Marcher

Teams must start on the first day with a minimum of 12 marchers.  12 Marchers must be present at the start on the first day (Tuesday). The Team may finish with less than the 12 marchers at the completion of the march. However, only those team members completing the march will receive the award medal.  Teams are expected to march in similar uniforms and march together as a unit. The team must process through each checkpoint, including starting and finish points, as a complete unit.  Team marchers may not change status to an individual after the registration process has been finalized.

 

Individual Marcher

Individuals march alone unattached to any unit.  The only difference between an Individual marcher and a Team marcher is the Individual is 100% responsible for his/her participation and may choose whom they march with, pace, and when they take breaks.

 

Start and Finish Times

In the past, some U.S. Teams have had difficulty managing start and finish times. 

 

All individuals and Teams MUST start in their designated time slots.  

Do not forget to scan in each day before starting as required.

Individuals are scheduled to start at 0430 on day 1,2,3 and at 0330 on day 4.

Teams are scheduled on a rotating basis with a different start time each day between 0435 and 0630, days 1 through 3, and an hour earlier on day 4.

 

Finish times are firmly established as 1700 each day unless otherwise notified due to weather considerations. Individuals or team marchers not scanned at the finish by 1700 will be administratively eliminated by the 4Daagse administration from the march without exception.  

 

If a team has a marcher encountering difficulties the team leader should decide what is best for the team.  Waiting for an injured marcher in medical care may be honorable, but also may result in eliminating the team if you don't get back to the scan line by 1700.