Yesterday, the 22 Wing/CFB North Bay Nijmegen Team returned from the Four Day Nijmegen Marches receiving a warm welcome from family and members of 22 Wing.
The team was just one of two Royal Canadian Air Force Wings to be chosen to participate in this famous march.
"The presence of a Canadian Armed Forces contingent demonstrates our dedication to remembering the Canadians who died liberating the Netherlands during World War II while honouring their bravery and reflecting on those who continue to proudly serve Canada today," says a 22 Wing news release.
See: Major with German ancestry to lead march through Holland -- peacefully this time
And: 22 Wing Nijmegen heading to Netherlands
The Nijmegen Marches consist of four days of marching, through the countryside and the crowded streets of towns and villages in the area surrounding the city of Nijmegen.
For military participants, each day's march begins and ends at the same base camp, Heumensoord, which is built every year just south of Nijmegen. The four-day route loops into the countryside and back to camp, like the four leaves of a clover.
Each military participant completes that day's itinerary while wearing standard combat clothing and carrying a military backpack weighted with 10 kilograms, in addition to individual provisions (water, snacks, etc.).
The Marches are neither a competition nor a speed test, but proper training and good team spirit are required to ensure success.
During the months of training necessary to be selected for the Canadian contingent, candidates test their physical and mental stamina by marching a minimum of 500 km as a team, in addition to conducting two consecutive days of 40 km marches. In general, most CAF participants train an average of 700 to 1000 km in anticipation of the Marches.
Moreover, Nijmegen is primarily a team event, which develops such core military values as leadership, teamwork, and camaraderie. The CAF contingent includes military personnel from across the country with diverse backgrounds, representing all ranks, trades, and Environments, Regular and Reserve Force. By working together and supporting one another, they will complete the Marches successfully and in good order.
