David Baran

Greetings,

I'm SGT David Baran from Detroit, Michigan, and currently serve as a 13M HIMARS Gunner with the 182nd Field Artillery in the Army National Guard. On the civilian side, I work as a Crane Operator at U.S. Steel.

I completed the Norwegian Foot March while deployed to Syria from 2022–2023. What I loved most about the experience was how it pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits. No matter how difficult it became, quitting was never an option. After returning home, I found myself wanting that same sense of challenge and accomplishment again.

Near the end of 2025, I discovered the rucking community—something I hadn't even known existed. One of the first groups I found was Rucking Tough, and it reignited that drive. Since the start of 2026, I've been completing virtual ruck events and had the opportunity to participate in the Luxembourg International March of Diekirch.

Right now, I'm training for the Danish Flyver March this August and the Norwegian Foot March again in October.

For weighted ruck events, my go-to setup is a Mystery Ranch Blackjack 80 pack, Salomon Quest 4D GTX Forces 2 boots, Injinji Crew Liner toe socks paired with Rucking Sox, and compression shorts. For weight, I use standard bench plates secured inside a large MOLLE pouch within my pack, which keeps the load stable throughout the event.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone just getting started, it would be this: stay hydrated, skip the energy drinks, and most importantly, have fun. The challenge is what makes the journey worthwhile.

DAVID BARAN - MICHIGAN, USA