DANCON MARCH || Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo

During my deployment, I had the opportunity to participate in two DANCON Marches. Each one was different. While the general details of a DANCON March are the same in this post as in my previous post. The images and my experience of the event are different. I hope you enjoy the post.

Participants check their gear and wait for the start of the event.

What is a DANCON March? 

DANCON stands for Danish Contingent. The DANCON March is a long-standing tradition that dates back to 1972 when the Royal Danish Army was deployed to Cyprus. Since then, the event has been held wherever the Danish Contingent is stationed, including locations such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Iraq, among others.

The march serves two key purposes: to assess the Army's physical readiness and to provide a social event for participants. The route typically winds through the countryside near the Danish camp, fostering a sense of connection and trust between the Danish military and the local residents. Additionally, proceeds from each march are donated to support wounded Danish soldiers and veteran programs.

Everyone is lined up to start.

DANCON March Requirements:

• A 25km route on foot, crossing varying terrain.
• A 10kg dry-weighted pack, in addition to food, water, socks, and other essentials.
• Weapons may be included as part of the load.
• The march must be completed in full military uniform and boots.
• The march has an 8-hour time limit.

Can I wear the medal on my uniform?

The short answer for U.S. military personnel is no. The DANCON medal is considered "honorary" and can only be accepted and retained, not worn on the uniform. I cannot speak for other armies' policies on wearing the medal. However, the medal is more of a reminder of the "Type II fun" you had and a badge of accomplishment for bragging rights. Don't let the inability to wear the medal discourage you from participating—it’s about more than just the award. The event is a social gathering with multinational troops and, importantly, serves as a fundraiser for Danish veteran programs.

Hundreds of Troops are greeted with a sunrise.

Does the medal change for each march?

Yes, each Danish Contingent designs its own medal based on regimental traditions, so the medal may vary from one march to the next.

The first of fields and wood lines that we would follow.

 

DANCON March Camp Novo Selo

Having completed a DANCON March earlier in my deployment, I knew exactly what to expect—especially the intense July heat. This time, the start time was earlier, with a two-hour window for check-in. We weighed our packs to ensure they met the official weight requirement before heading through the check-in process. The Danish Army has this down to a science. It was interesting to observe the different uniforms and equipment of each army during check-in. While each nation’s gear may look different, it's clear that, at our core, all soldiers are the same.

Approximately 900 participants took part in the march, hosted by the Danish Contingent. Soldiers from the following partner nations were represented: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States. I’m sure I’ve missed a few others.

The last time I participated in the DANCON March, I loaded my pockets with candy to hand out to the children in the villages we passed. However, since we started our march before the sun had risen and finished before the villagers started their day, I didn’t bring any candy this time. If your event takes place during daylight hours, I highly recommend bringing candy to give to the local children.

Pro-tip: Save some candy for your return to Camp Novo Selo. While you’ll miss the children at the start of the march, there will be kids in the village just outside the camp on your way back. If you don’t have candy, they’ll likely ask for uniform patches, which can be a bit persistent.

Sometimes you have to forge your own path.

Though I knew the event would be tough, I was excited to march into the countryside and walk through the small farming villages. As we left camp, the march headed east, and we were greeted by a stunning sunrise. It quickly became clear that this march would take a different route than the last one. With over half of Kosovo’s land dedicated to agriculture, our path wound along the edges of fields and down rutted tractor paths.

Navigating the route proved challenging, as passing other participants was difficult due to the sheer number of people, the crops, and the uneven terrain. Once we finally reached the asphalt, it was time to make a move and push forward.

The air quality in Kosovo can be bad. You can see the brown smog in this picture.

It’s hard to put into words, but the sun in Kosovo just feels intense. On this day, it didn’t take long for the heat to set in. There’s little relief from the sun, as trees are few and far between, as shown in the image above. What always amazes me is the sheer number of troops participating in this event—they seem to march on endlessly. Along the route, there are aid stations offering food and water to help keep everyone going. 

Over half of the land in Kosovo is used for agriculture. Most land is used for subsistence farming.

I can't emphasize enough how different this DANCON was from the first one I participated in. We started right at sunrise, but instead of passing through the villages like I had before, we marched through the fields that sustain the people of Kosovo. The route was about 2km shorter than the previous march.

However, the Royal Danish Army had a little trick up their sleeve! As we neared the camp, we thought we were almost done—just a few hundred steps away from where we started hours earlier. But then, one of the Danish soldiers cheered us on and told us we had to take a lap around the running track at the camp. In an instant, I went from thinking I was finished to realizing I had more to go. It felt like a bit of a mind game—definitely a disheartening moment!

The corn as a little longer to grow.

The finish-line check-in didn’t go as smoothly as the weigh-in that morning. It took me almost an hour to check in and receive my certificate and ribbon.

A few things to keep in mind if you're considering doing a DANCON March: Each Danish contingent designs its own ribbon, reflecting its regimental traditions. The routes can vary, and sometimes the distance may be shorter depending on factors like heat and manpower. The start time could be a mass start or staggered, so be prepared for either. Tickets for the event sell out quickly, so don't hesitate to secure yours once they become available.

Now it is Your Turn-

Please leave a comment. I would like to hear about your DANCON March.

Navigate over to our other related articles on the DANCON March.

To see more photos from the DANCON March, navigate over to Navigate to Your Adventure on Flickr.