Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) participated in the Danish-led DANCON March at their headquarters in Bahrain. The march took place on 28 May within the NSA complex on a 2.4 kilometre track with over 200 military and civilian participants from 15 different nations.
The DANCON march has been a tradition since 1972 when the Royal Danish Army was deployed to Cyprus. It has been a tradition for the Danish Contingents (DANCON) to conduct a 25 kilometre march to test each soldier’s physical fitness and endurance. The march is normally undertaken in uniform carrying a 10 kg pack.
Two Danish officers, working with CMF, organised a local naval DANCON March in Bahrain and invited all CMF personnel to participate. In addition, a five kilometre family march was organised concurrently to allow families and friends to participate.
Commander Tommy Pedersen, one of the organisers of the march, stated that the intention of the march was not only about the physical challenge but also to provide an opportunity for CMF personnel to get to know one another outside of day-to-day work. He said: “While the march was physically challenging, it was the combination of determination, laughter and comradery that made it such a success. In addition, I think that having soldiers from 15 nations come together in this way is not only a great outcome but a valuable objective in itself.”
Commodore Keith Blount, Deputy Commander CMF, took part in the march and congratulated all those who participated. He said: “It is very impressive to see so many individuals participating in such a demanding physical challenge. I congratulate all those that made the effort and thank those who organised and provided the support to ensure the event was a success.”
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 