US troops in Germany among thousands around globe to earn Danish military medal 

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Sgt. Erick Baltazar woke hours before sunrise Saturday on this rural Bavarian base, nearly 300 miles from his home station in Baumholder. His goal: earn a piece of international military recognition.

Baltazar, a soldier with the 254th Medical Detachment, was among nearly 200 U.S. troops who joined the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Grafenwoehr as part of the Royal Danish Flyver March, a 12½-mile military test of endurance.

“I wanted to complete it because I’ve been doing a lot of foreign awards,” Baltazar said.

“I know they did this last year as well, and they had a huge turnout. This year it’s even bigger,” he added.

Thousands more took part through authorized hosts around the globe Aug. 28-29, with the Grafenwoehr-based artillery regiment among those offering U.S. troops a chance to earn the medal, which became eligible for wear on their uniforms last year. 

The objective was simple: lace up their boots, shoulder a 25-pound pack and cover 20 kilometers.

At Grafenwoehr, there was no prescribed route or official time limit, though many were encouraged to measure themselves against the Army’s three-hour standard for a 12-mile ruck march.

Some set out with friends and colleagues along the training area’s walking trails, while others followed the base’s perimeter, arriving alone and finding company along the way. 

“I’ve done a lot of 12-mile rucks before, never with anybody because it’s always been in competition,” Baltazar said. “It’s really good to just enjoy the time, catch up, talk.”

Three soldiers pose with their completion certificates after finishing the 12.5-mile Royal Danish Air Force Flyver March in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

Sgt. Ronaldo Martinez, a soldier with the Grafenwoehr artillery regiment, was both a participant and the primary organizer of Saturday’s event.

“I feel like it’s a good morale booster because it gives soldiers a chance to earn a rack, especially the new soldiers,” Martinez said.

The Flyver March began in 2021 as a volunteer-led Danish air force initiative at Air Base Karup on the Jutland peninsula, according to official LinkedIn posts.

The event is built around the long-standing military tradition of marching and is intended to promote physical fitness and camaraderie among personnel across Denmark’s armed forces.

Since then, the event has expanded internationally, with volunteers like Martinez working with Danish air force organizers to bring the opportunity to service members at locations outside Denmark.

Soldiers trudge along their designated course during the Royal Danish Air Force Flyver March in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Aug. 29, 2026. The event, which this year saw its largest iteration to date, is meant to test endurance and boost morale while giving troops a chance to earn an internationally recognized medal. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)

This year, about 45,000 participants from several U.S. military branches took part across 47 states and 27 countries, marking the largest turnout to date, Danish air force event founder Lasse Bak Gustafson said on LinkedIn.

Soldiers, airmen and other service members crossed the Grafenwoehr finish line Saturday, many smiling and joking that the 12½-mile challenge was little more than a morning stroll.

“I think everybody should participate in it at least once,” Baltazar said.

“It is a good opportunity to network, especially with other people across the services. … If we could offer this in more bases, I think the interest would be so much bigger.”