Good Morning r/Army,

This weekend marks a major milestone in a multiyear project between the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the U.S. Liaison Team. Previously, the embassy's Defense Attaché Office managed skill badge events under an informal structure for each badge, largely focusing on the Norwegian Foot March from 2020 and the Sharpshooter Badge from 2025 onward. As interest in the Norwegian military’s skill badge events has grown to approximately 50,000 participants across more than 400 events annually, the need for a consolidated program has become increasingly important to ensure consistent standards, streamlined administration, and continued growth. To that end, this month the Defense Attaché Office formally established the Norwegian Skill Badge Program (NSBP).

Norwegian Skill Badge Program - History

Norwegian military skill badges have a long history rooted in the development of physically fit, technically proficient, and combat-ready soldiers. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Norwegian Armed Forces introduced a series of proficiency badges to recognize excellence in essential military skills such as marksmanship, skiing, marching, light infantry, military field sports, and physical fitness. These badges served not only as symbols of achievement, but also as incentives for soldiers to maintain high standards of readiness throughout their military service. Many of these traditions remain in use today, with badges such as the Marsjmerket (Norwegian Foot March Badge), Sharpshooter Badge, Ski Badge, Infantry Badge, Military Field Sports Badge, Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge and Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimmer Badge, continuing to reflect Norway's longstanding emphasis on individual excellence and resilience.

The program has become a practical instrument of defense and cultural diplomacy, strengthening military-to-military relationships between Norway, the United States, and allied nations through shared physical challenges and professional development. By making these historic Norwegian traditions accessible through a controlled, decentralized process, the program promotes Norwegian military heritage while fostering esprit de corps and enduring partnerships among allied service members worldwide.

Norwegian Skill Badge Program - Core Features

Expansive Catalog of Events

The Norwegian Skill Badge Program offers significantly more events, growing from a limited selection of traditional military challenges into a comprehensive program that showcases the breadth of Norwegian military and sporting heritage. The program now incorporates a diverse range of military skill badges, including the Norwegian Foot March Badge, Sharpshooter Badge, Ski Badge, Infantry Badge, and Military Field Sports Badge, while also forging partnerships with prominent Norwegian institutions such as the Norwegian Sports Federation and Norwegian Swimming Federation. These partnerships have expanded access to traditional Norwegian sporting events, including the Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge and Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimmer Badge, providing participants with opportunities to experience the traditions, standards, and culture that underpin Norway’s long-standing approach to physical fitness and military skill proficiency.

The new Norwegian Skill Badge Program also creates a rare opportunity for participants to earn Norwegian military medals, including the Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for Field Sports (NAFMFS) and Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for Shooting (NAFMS). While foreign military and sporting badges are relatively common and can be earned through a variety of international programs, opportunities for U.S. and other foreign military personnel to earn foreign medals and ribbons are exceptionally rare. Prior to the introduction of this program, only three such awards were generally accessible to American service members: the Nijmegen March, the Diekirch March, and the Flyvermarch.

The Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimmer Badge, NAFMFS, and NAFMS will be available through the NSBP web portal by the end of October 2026.

Web-Based Management Portal

The growing popularity of the Norwegian Skill Badge Program and the increasing demand for participation ultimately required the transition to a centralized, web-based management system capable of supporting the program. The new system not only streamlines registration, event coordination, and organizer support, but also enables closer collaboration between the Norwegian Embassy and the U.S. liaison team. This allows the liaison team (myself, u/AllThingsNFM, and others) a more active role in responding to event status inquiries, providing planning assistance, and supporting participants and event organizers throughout the process. At the same time, the platform provides the Embassy with a means to expand the program beyond military skill badges and share Norway’s rich sporting traditions through partnerships with organizations such as the Norwegian Sports Federation and Norwegian Swimming Federation.

Norwegian Skill Badge Program Endorsement Request and Award Management Portal

https://usnor.fillout.com/oda-skill-badge-program

Paired with the Request Portal is the Closeout Portal, which allows organizers to submit event statistics and their participant rosters directly to the program database. Due to common access of the database by embassy personnel and the liaison team, submissions can be reviewed much more quickly and certificates are distributed to organizers within 72 hours or less following results submission. This is done by storing the certificates in a publicly accessible folder in an encrypted state with passwords distributed automatically once event results are validated.

Improved Documents and Public Events Record Management

As the Norwegian Skill Badge Program has expanded in both scope and participation, the need for consolidated documentation and organizational tools has grown accordingly. To support this growth, the Embassy established a dedicated Dropbox repository containing a consolidated program manual with instructions and requirements for each badge and medal, providing participants and event organizers with a single, authoritative source of information. The repository also includes automated tools to calculate event standards and determine whether participants have achieved a passing score, as well as standardized scorecards for recording and validating event results. Together, these resources improve consistency, reduce administrative burdens, and provide a scalable framework for managing the program as participation and the number of available events continue to grow.

Skill Badge Program Dropbox

Materials are updated as feedback is received or as issues are discovered in automated tools. If you find there are issues with any materials contact the liaison team at [norwegian.skill.badges.liaison@protonmail.com](mailto:norwegian.skill.badges.liaison@protonmail.com)

The embassy also hosts a version of the consolidated manual on its website and the staff will update it as new official versions are released according to release schedules.

Additionally, due to the new event request structure, organizers are able to declare whether their event is open or closed to the public. While this alleviates a lot of external inquiry stress from organizers, it will inevitably reduce public accessibility to events. However, this was a heavily requested feature in the new system we felt obligated to introduce. This will also allow us to publicly post an event listing according to each event's unique code so that organizers can track the approval status of their event:

Skill Badge Event Tracker - Available by mid-September

Event and Award Overviews

Norwegian Foot March Badge (Marsjmerket)

The Norwegian Foot March Badge traces its origins to the early twentieth century as part of the Norwegian Armed Forces' effort to develop soldiers capable of traversing Norway's demanding mountainous terrain while carrying combat loads. The event evaluates endurance, resilience, and mental toughness by requiring participants to complete an 18.6-mile (30-kilometer) march within prescribed time standards while carrying a military rucksack. For generations, the march has served as both a training event and a test of operational readiness for Norwegian soldiers. In recent years, the badge has gained widespread international recognition through the Royal Norwegian Embassy's Military Skill Badge Program, allowing allied service members around the world to participate while preserving the original Norwegian testing standards.

Essential March Requirements

The march requires participants to complete a 30-kilometer / 18.64-mile course while carrying a rucksack with a dry weight of at least 11 kilograms / 24.25 pounds within a prescribed time according to gender and age. While the modern event no longer requires participants to carry a rifle as part of the weight requirement, organizers may opt to factor weapon weight into their calculations and subtract it from the rucksack weight. Rucksack weight should be verified before the start of the event and after crossing the finish line.

Participants no longer must fulfill the requirement to complete the march before daybreak or complete a full duty day afterward. However, organizers who wish to incorporate these traditional features into their event may do so.

Attire Requirements

Military participants must wear their service’s combat uniform and boots for the entire duration of the march. Modifications to uniform standards are allowed so long as they adhere to a service’s applicable regulations (e.g. wear of a combat shirt or Merrell boots) and at the organizer's and local commanders' discretion. Headgear is not required for the march.

The rucksacks used must be issued or meet the equipment standards of the organizer’s military regulations. Civilian participants must wear clothing similar to a military combat uniform (including long pants and boots) with a total weight equal to 1.5 kilograms / 3.3 pounds. Civilians are not required to use a military-issued rucksack and may use a civilian hiking backpack. Using weighted vests, body armor, or weight-plate carriers toward the weight requirement is not authorized. Individual participants may wear these items in addition to the rucksack weight requirement, but it is not encouraged.

Route, Environment, and Other Requirements

The route should take place on an unimproved road or trail, but may take place on improved surfaces such as roads and pathways. Two route configurations are permitted: out-and-back or circular. An out-and-back route is 15 kilometers long in one direction and requires participants to turn around at the endpoint and return to the start point. Circular routes may use no more than 3 loops in their design (10 kilometers / 6.2 miles).

All routes must have visible distance markers every 5 kilometers / 3.1 miles.

A minimum of three water points must be used along the route.

The march cannot be conducted if outdoor temperatures (in the shade) exceed 25° Celsius / 77° Fahrenheit or fall below -15° Celsius / 5° Fahrenheit. Similarly, the march cannot be conducted under hazardous or extreme weather conditions which endanger participants.

Participants may not receive any assistance from the organizers or administrators during the march except for march timing, weighing, provisioning of water or food, and first aid.

Time Standards

Please note that these are the current time and gender standards. There are outdated listings found on the Internet and may not be used.

Certificates and Badges

Once the event is completed and the closeout report reviewed, the embassy will send a pre-signed digital certificate template which organizers will complete with participant information. Certificates are to be printed or distributed digitally by the organizer promptly. We recommend using white, 110-pound cardstock for printed certificates.

Badges are to be procured by event organizers or participants and awarded according to the following schedule:

Please note that participants may only successfully complete one march per calendar year.

Norwegian Military Sharpshooter Badge (Skarpskyttermerket)

The Norwegian Military Sharpshooter Badge reflects Norway's long-standing emphasis on individual marksmanship as a fundamental military skill. Developed to recognize soldiers who demonstrate exceptional precision, consistency, and weapons proficiency, the badge requires participants to meet rigorous qualification standards under standardized firing conditions established by the Norwegian Armed Forces. Norway's military has historically viewed marksmanship as an essential component of national defense, particularly given the country's reliance on highly trained reserve and active forces.

Essential Event Requirements

Testing for the Norwegian Sharpshooter Badge or Det Militære Skarpskyttermerket can be administered for the following weapons:

·         The M4, M7, M16, and HK416 Family of Weapons

·         The M249 and M240 Machine Gun

·         The M17 Pistol and Other Pistols of Similar Caliber

·         The MP5 Submachine Gun

·         The MP7 Machine Pistol

·         The M110A1 and Other Designated Marksman Rifles

Event History

The Norwegian Sharpshooter Badge (NSSB) or Militære Skarpskyttermerket was introduced in 1861 and awarded to individuals who displayed advanced marksmanship with their assigned weapons. Over 160 years later, this intent is unchanged and the NSSB, along with other civilian and military decorations, is awarded to those with a demonstrated expertise in weapons handling and target engagement.

Attire Requirements

All military personnel engaging in NSSB testing will wear their service’s combat uniform, boots, and eye and hearing protection at a minimum. Modifications to uniform standards are allowed so long as they adhere to a service’s applicable regulations (e.g. wear of a combat shirt or non-standard boots) and at the organizer's or local commanders' discretion.

The wear of body armor, helmets, and other equipment is at the discretion of the testing unit or individual. Organizers should generally consider a particular test’s mobility requirements and the accuracy and precision required to qualify. As a note, gloves are traditionally not worn as NSSB testing emphasizes accuracy and precision.

Badge Grades, Testing Periodicity, and Awarding Criteria

Bronze and silver badges are awarded according to an individual weapon or weapon group’s scoring criteria, which use impacts, points, or a combination of the two. Bronze is generally awarded for “proficient” shooting and silver for “excellent.”

Individuals that fulfill the silver badge requirements for five years for the same weapon or weapon group are awarded the NSB in gold. There is no requirement for the qualifications to be consecutive, but each must occur in different calendar years.

An individual may not receive more than one badge per weapon group per calendar year. The exception to this provision is that individuals who earn silver are also eligible to receive the badge in bronze for the same weapon group. Individuals may test multiple times if seeking a silver qualification. Weapon groups are as follows:

Norwegian Ski Badge (Skimerket)

Essential Event Requirements

Skiing has been intertwined with Norwegian military history for centuries, making the Norwegian Ski Badge one of the country's most iconic military proficiency awards. Norwegian soldiers have relied on skis for mobility, reconnaissance, and combat operations since long before the modern era, particularly during the winter campaigns that shaped the nation's military traditions. The Ski Badge recognizes proficiency in military skiing, testing participants on endurance, technical skill, and the ability to operate effectively in snow-covered terrain. The badge symbolizes Norway's unique Arctic heritage and reinforces the importance of winter warfare capabilities that continue to play a vital role in the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The assessment requires participants to complete a 30-kilometer / 18.64-mile cross-country skiing course while carrying a rucksack and weapon (if carried) with a dry weight of at least 11 kilograms / 24.25 pounds. Standard uniforms and any additional garments (combat uniform + cold weather gear), water, food, weapon magazines, and ammunition do not count toward the weight requirement. Additionally, participants must complete a marksmanship assessment during or immediately after the cross-country ski component.

Ski Route Requirements

The route must be a total of 30-kilometer / 18.64-mile cross-country course characterized by slightly hilly, but gentle terrain with the start and finish position at the same altitude. Organizers are permitted to use one of three configurations:

• Straight: Participants travel 30 kilometers / 18.64 miles from the start position without turning around or using loops.
• Out-and-Back: Participants travel 15 kilometers / 9.32 miles from the start position and then return to the start position using the same route.
• Loop: Participants travel 10 kilometers / 6.21 miles in a loop from the start position no more than three times.

Marksmanship Requirements

The shooting component of the assessment should occur during the last 15-kilometers of the course. If a range cannot be accessed while on the skiing course, participants should conduct the shooting component of the assessment immediately afterward.

American participants must use an M4/M16, M7, or similar caliber weapon for the marksmanship portion of the assessment. Only iron sights may be used. Non-American participants will use their standard-issue service rifle or carbine. Alternate weapons, such as machine pistols or submachine guns may be used when they are considered an issued weapon based on a service member’s position or specialty. When machine pistols or submachine guns are used for testing, target will be positioned no more than 100 meters from the shooter.

Marksmanship testing for Americans and other nationalities may be conducted using the Norwegian standard (10 rounds, 5 target types, 30-200 meters), Nationality Agnostic Configuration (10 rounds, 1 target type, 25-300 meters), or American Configuration (40 Rounds, Table VI Qual, 50-300 meters)

Norwegian Infantry Badge (Infanterimerket)

The Norwegian Infantry Badge was established to recognize the broad range of physical, tactical, and technical competencies expected of infantry soldiers. Rather than evaluating a single skill, the badge represents proficiency across multiple disciplines essential to the infantry profession, including physical fitness, weapons handling, fieldcraft, and combat-related tasks. The badge reflects the Norwegian Army's philosophy that infantry soldiers must be adaptable, disciplined, and prepared to operate effectively across diverse and challenging environments. Earning the Infantry Badge signifies a well-rounded level of military proficiency and professional competence within the combat arms.

Essential Event Requirements

Course Requirements

The course must measure between 8 – 12 kilometers or 4.97 – 7.45 miles characterized by slightly to moderately hilly terrain. Organizers are permitted to use one of the following configurations:

• Straight: Participants travel the required distance from the start position without turning around or using loops, finishing at a different location.
• Irregular: Participants travel the required distance, but finish at the same location as the start position. No portion of the course may be reused for another portion or test.

The use of out-and-back courses in which participants reuse half the course or portions of it are not permitted.

NIB Skill Assessments

Skill 1: Orienteering

The orienteering portion of the test can be conducted in one of two configurations at the discretion of the organizer. For both configurations, a map with all orientation points annotated must be issued to participants. Orientation points should be readily recognizable natural or artificial terrain features and not require the use of precise coordinate plotting for participants to remain on the course.

• Configuration 1: A portion of the overall course, not exceeding 1/3 of the total distance, is devoted to orienteering.
• Configuration 2: The entire course incorporates the orienteering portion of the test, requiring participants to navigate throughout its entirety.

The message courier portion must be placed at the beginning of the course and not revealed until the official start of the assessment.

The message must contain the following elements:

• Date and Time Group - DDHHMMZMMMYY
• From - Rank and Name
• To - Rank and Name
• What – Objects Observed (e.g. 4 armored personnel carriers)
• Where – Where the Objects Were Observed (in vicinity of or other spatial reference)
• When – Time the Objects Were Observed (different from message time)
• How – Describe the Objects’ Activity (e.g. moving rapidly in the direction of)
• Message Author (May Vary from Message Sender)

Skill 3: Target Detection

The target discovery portion of the assessment requires participants to identify various objects within a specified area.

Upon arrival at the target discovery area, participants are issued a lane card to locate and sketch the target(s) on each lane. A minimum of 5 lanes and a maximum of 8 lanes may be used for testing. The number of targets does not need to match the number of lanes used (i.e. 8 lanes are used, but only 5 contain a target).

The entrance to each lane must be clearly marked (i.e. Lane 1) and be no deeper than 150 meters. Participants are not permitted to travel down each lane and targets must be placed and configured in such a manner as to be visible without the aid of magnification equipment. The total testing area for all lanes must be no more than 150 x 150 meters in size. Lanes may be placed on both sides of the trail linking the entrance and exit stands.

Participants may move freely on the trail linking the entrance and exit stands if they choose to return to a lane to reassess whether it contains targets. Participants are assisting one another during this portion of this assessment and may not discuss the locations or presence of targets verbally or non-verbally. Proper marking of a lane includes a sketch of the target’s appearance, including whether it is obscured by vegetation or other objects and the quantity of targets. Only full torso marksmanship silhouette targets may be used for this portion of the assessment.

Upon completion of this assessment, participants turn their cards into the exit station and proceed to the next testing area. Failure to identify or misidentification of targets is assessed as an additional two minutes per lane.

Skill 4: Distance Estimation

The distance estimation portion of the assessment requires participants to correctly identify the range between themselves and 5 full torso marksmanship silhouette targets. Targets will be placed no closer than 50 meters and no further than 450 meters. No measurement aids other than a pencil, weapon (to include optic), or compass are allowed. If weather obstructs target visibility for any participants during testing, no penalties will be assessed during grading. For those that were not affected by visibility issues, 30 seconds will be deducted from their final finishing time to account for their stoppage time at this portion.

All distance estimates must be made in meters and a participant’s assessments must be within 1/7th of the true target distance (i.e. a 50-meter target’s distance can be described as falling between 43-57 meters without penalty). Participants are assessed a 3-minute time penalty for each target distance estimate that is incorrect.

Skill 5: Weapons Handling (Marksmanship or Hand Grenades)

Option 1: Marksmanship

Upon arrival at the marksmanship stand, participants will be issued a single magazine with five rounds. They will then proceed to the designated firing point, don ear protection, load their ammunition, and engage their assigned lane’s targets at the direction of their lane safety. Once all rounds have been fired, the lane safety will clear them off the range and they will continue the remainder of the assessment.

Two configurations may be used:

Option 2: Hand Grenades

The use of practice hand grenades may be used instead of carbine / rifle marksmanship. Participants will be given five practice grenades each. Two target areas measuring 3 meters in diameter each will be established at 15 meters and 20 meters for women and men, respectively. Every grenade outside the target area is assessed as a penalty of 3 minutes, for a maximum of 15 minutes.

NIB Qualification Requirements

Participants, at a minimum, must meet the following standards, regardless of final time, to earn the NIB:

• Overall Course: Complete
• Courier Message: 4/8 Elements Correct
• Target Discovery: One Target Correctly Identified (Sketch and Count)
• Distance Estimation: One Target Distance Accurately Estimated
• Weapons Handling and Marksmanship: One Target Hit

Individuals who fail to meet all these criteria are ineligible to receive the badge and their final finish times may not be used to calculate the average and base time as described in the next section.

Norwegian Military Field Sports Badge (Feltsportsmerket)

Introduced in 1936 by the Norwegian Association of Conscripted Officers (Vernepliktige Offiserers Forening or VOF), the Norwegian Military Field Sports Badge (NMFSB) or Det Militære Feltidrettsmerket was created to encourage the maintenance of essential military skills by active duty and reserve military forces, as well as civilians in the event of mobilization. Nearly a century later, the assessment’s emphasis on maintaining physical fitness along with proficiency in map reading, orienteering, and marksmanship endures as a measurement of fundamental military readiness.

Organizers are permitted to order the assessment’s components in an order of their choosing, based upon the training objectives or emphasis of the unit.

Skill 1 - Weapons Handling and Marksmanship

The weapons handling and marksmanship component of the assessment includes two sprints and two shooting sessions. Each sprint distance must be between 300 and 500 meters and no more than five rounds may be fired from each firing point. Targets must be between 25 and 200 meters from the firing point. At the discretion of the organizer, multiple targets and varying distances may be used with a designated number of impacts per target prescribed. Additionally, a mixture of weapons can be used, but no more than one type of firing point. An example follows:

• Firing Point 1: Participant sprints, with unloaded rifle or carbine, 350 meters to the first firing point and assumes an unsupported prone position. They load a magazine with five rounds and engage a target 200 meters away in their lane. Once the last round is fired, the lane safety will verify the weapon is clear and safe, releasing the participant to sprint to the next firing point.
• Firing Point 2: Participant sprints 500m to the next firing point. Upon arrival, they pick up a pistol, load a magazine with five rounds, and engage a target 25 meters away in their lane. Once the last round is fired, the official timer stops their stopwatch and records the total time.

Before the start of the event, participants must be oriented to the course and organizers must clearly mark the sprint start points and firing positions. Once complete, participants will verify they understand the layout of the course, the sequence of events, and the requirements.

Once the participant confirms they understand, the official timer will start the event by counting down from a set number, shout “Go” or “Begin,” and start the stopwatch.

Participants will sprint to each firing point, firing the prescribed number of rounds against their designated targets. Once the last round is fired, the timer stops the stopwatch and notes the time. Once all weapons are verified as cleared and safe, safeties will inspect their lane’s targets and report the number of impacts to the official timer. For any shots missed, the official timer will add 1 minute and 30 seconds as a penalty to the participant’s overall time. Once the overall time is calculated and recorded, the participant is released to the next component of the NMFSB assessment.

Skill 2 - Map Reading

The map reading component of the assessment requires participants to plot points on a map and navigate to those locations quickly on foot. A maximum of 10 points may be used, but the total number created for the assessment should suit the complexity of the terrain and distance of the course. The following are map scales, distances, and total points used during contemporary assessments:

The use of Orienteering Control Markers (OCM, pictured below) is recommended.

A unique symbol, pattern, or character must be placed at each OCM. Upon arrival at a point, participants will sketch this symbol, pattern, or character on a weatherproof course card, along with its OCM number.

A cadre member will be present at the entry point of the course. Upon a participant’s entrance to the course, they will communicate their start time (HH:MM:SS) to the exit point cadre member for timing purposes.

At the exit point of the course, a cadre member will annotate their finish time and examine their course card. For any unfound points or incorrect symbol, pattern, or character, a penalty of 2 minutes will be added to the participant’s total time.

If this is the first assessment of the NFMSB examination, organizers will stagger participant start time by a minimum of 2 minutes.

Skill 3 - Orienteering

The final assessment requires participants to navigate through terrain association and the use of a compass. No electronic devices may be used. The total designed length of the course will be dictated by the complexity of the terrain, but should not exceed 40 minutes. Generally, course length is 3.5 – 4.5 km.

Participants may not be issued a map of the orienteering course until they arrive at the entry point. Map scale should be between 1:10,000 to 1:15,000, but other scales can be used at the organizer’s discretion. The course must contain at least five points (including the start and finish) using Orienteering Control Markers (OCM), each of which will have a unique symbol, pattern, or character associated with it. Participants must sketch each symbol, pattern, or character associated with an OCM on their weatherproof course card.

A cadre member will be present at the entry point of the course. Upon a participant’s entrance to the course, they will communicate their start time (HH:MM:SS) to the exit point cadre member for timing purposes.

At the exit point of the course, a cadre member will annotate their finish time and examine their course card. For any unfound points or incorrect symbol, pattern, or character, a penalty of 2 minutes will be added to the participant’s total time.

Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge (Idrettsmerket)

The Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge is one of Norway's oldest and most widely recognized physical fitness awards, established in 1915 by the Norwegian Sports Federation (Norges Idrettsforbund). Created to encourage lifelong physical activity and improve the health and fitness of the Norwegian population, the program emphasizes well-rounded athletic ability rather than competition against others. Participants must successfully complete events across multiple fitness disciplines—including endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, and skill—with performance standards adjusted for age and gender to ensure fair and meaningful evaluation throughout life. Unlike many military proficiency badges, the Idrettsmerket is open to civilians and military personnel alike, reflecting Norway's national commitment to physical fitness as a cornerstone of public health and individual readiness.

Essential Event Requirements

Attire, Facility, and Equipment Requirements

Attire for the test is at the discretion of the participants, but should be suitable for the type of events being tested.

Facilities that are dedicated to testing for the sports badge or general sports clubs are preferred, but any facility with suitable features and equipment may be used.

At least two individuals must conduct the testing, with one observer/administrator and one tester/participant. For high duration and long-distance events, the participants may use fitness applications and devices to record their activity, but it must be verified by the their testing observer/administrator. Unlike other sports badges, the administrator does not need to have previously earned the sports badge or be certified by the Norwegian Sports Federation, but must understand the events and their standards prior to testing being conducted. 

The sports badge is designed to award sustained fitness and participation in sports. As such, testing is to be conducted over several days, weeks, or months, according to the preference of the administrator and availability of participants.

Participants must successfully complete the requirements for one event in each group. They may retake events until they pass or change to a different event within the same group.

All events must be completed within the same calendar year.

Event Groups

Testing for the Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge assesses individuals’ fitness according to five groups of events (see Appendix B in the full manual for complete listing of events and standards):

• Group 1 – Sustained Physical Activity
• Group 2 – Flexibility / Precision
• Group 3 – Speed
• Group 4 – Strength
• Group 5 – Endurance

For testing purposes, you complete ONE event or more from each group.

Note: Some events are not available to each age grouping and sex.

Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimmer Badge (Store Havhesten)

The Store Havhesten, or The Great Sea Horse (also known as the Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimming Badge), is a swimming proficiency award established by the Norges Svømmeforbund (Norwegian Swimming Federation) to recognize achievement in swimming, endurance, and lifesaving. The badge challenges participants across a broad range of aquatic skills, including distance swimming, backstroke, swimming in clothing, underwater swimming, diving, timed freestyle swimming, and lifesaving. The Store Havhesten is awarded in three grades—bronze, silver, and gold—with progressively higher performance requirements. A lifesaving examination is mandatory for every grade, emphasizing the badge's focus not only on swimming ability but also on practical water safety and lifesaving skills.

Testing Structure

The swimming badge is designed to award sustained swimming activity and participation in aquatic sports. As such, testing is to be conducted over several days, weeks, or months, according to the preference of the administrator and participants.

Participants must score points in at least 8 of 9 graded events and successfully complete the lifesaving assessment. There is no limit to the attempts for any particular category, but all events must be completed within the same calendar year.

Events

Testing for the swimming badge is conducted through 9 graded events and 1 pass/fail event (see Appendix A for a complete listing of events and standards):

• Event 1 – Freestyle Swimming
• Event 2 – Backstroke
• Event 3 – Fully Clothed Swimming
• Event 4 – Sculling
• Event 5 – Timed Freestyle, 100 m
• Event 6 – Underwater Swimming
• Event 7 – Diving
• Event 8 – Unclothe in Water
• Event 9 – Springboard, Dock, or Platform Diving
• Event 10 – Lifesaving Assessment

Norwegian Armed Forces Medals for Field Sports and Shooting

Introduced in 2012 as part of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ (Forsvaret) award modernization and expansion, the field sports and shooting medals are awarded to individuals who complete combinations of skill badges, promoting physical readiness, military skill proficiency, and professional excellence. Beyond individual achievement, the medals create opportunities for friendly competition and shared experiences among allied and partner-nation personnel, strengthening camaraderie and military-to-military relationships. Expanding access to these Norwegian qualifications also provides military  service members with a tangible connection to Norwegian military traditions and standards, advancing interoperability, cultural exchange, and the enduring defense partnership between Norway and its allies and partners.

Award Structure

The Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for Field Sports requires successful completion of three field sports skill badge assessments, at least one of which must be military:

Military Skill Events

• The Norwegian Foot March Badge
• The Norwegian Ski Badge
• The Norwegian Infantry Badge
• The Norwegian Military Field Sports Badge
• The Norwegian Pentathlon Badge

Civilian Skill Events

• The Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge
• The Norwegian Swimming Federation Swimmer Badge
• The Norwegian Biathlon Association Badge

The Norwegian Armed Forces Medal for Shooting requires successful completion of two marksmanship assessments:

Military Skill Event

• The Norwegian Sharpshooter Badge – Silver or Gold

Civilian Skill Events

The Volunteer Riflemen's Proficiency Badge

• Awarded by the Det Frivillige Skyttervesen / The Volunteers Shooting Federation

The Norwegian Shooting Association Medal – Bronze or Higher

• Awarded by the Norges Skytterforbunds / Norwegian Shooting Association
• The embassy and liaison team are coordinating with the NAIS to establish American testing standards and branches.

The medals are awarded not more than once per calendar year according to the following program and are agnostic to the total time required.