American Reacts to Norwegian Military Tattoo

Also, these are 19 year old conscipts. They have been training less than a year

Hi Tyler, As a former corporal in His Majesty the King’s Guard 3. Company drill unit (was the 5. Company when I was in 2001), there is a lot of training to perform at the highest standard. As mentioned before, we are only in for 1 year. People that joined the marching band, they have had a musical entrance exam in order to get picked out. They have usually more than 10 years of experience in playing and marching. When it comes to the drill unit, we do not have the same experience and therefor starting from scratch. Weapon that is used is a Garand M1 with a bayonet, weigh in at 5 kg or around 11 pounds. The bayonet can absolutely cut you if you are a bit unlucky with your position and do not have enough space when we rotate the rifle. In my platoon, we have one deep cut right before a performance, but we just taped it up and did our show. The total length of one show, is about 30 minutes long. What you saw was a shorten version of it because it was a tattoo and you need to make place for other nation as well. My first 6 months of training, before even getting to show of what we could, consisting of me getting up at 0530 and in bed at 2300 each day. Almost no spare time, and no time for yourself. Always something to work on, to be better on. At this time, we had the weekends off. From May to September, then the drill season is on. At this time, we only had 2 weeks off as summer vacation. Rest of the time goes to practice and performing, both weekdays and weekends. There is 32 persons that perform at the same time. But what do you not see is that we also have 8 persons that are working as reserve, so that we can rotate with personnel to not get injuries because it is quite a load for your knees and hip socket. After a while, you can smash your Garand M1 into your hips without feeling anything cause all your nerves are totally gone… I was marked as a reserve, and this is the highest form for trust you can get. It means that you need to have control over 4 different places within the drill. And all position is a bit unique. Since I was in service 2001, I was able to go to Edinburgh Military Tattoo for a month. This is the most prestige tattoo in the world! Was it hard work? ABSOLUTELY! But what a unique year I was able to experience!! Can for sure recommend this as a military service.

So cool to see this again. I was a member of that exact group. His Majestys Kings Guard 3 company . Was in from october 03 to October 04. This was actually the last performance we did before beeing released from the army. I played first trumpet. As an old HMKG member we have a saying. "En gang gardist, alltid gardist." Translate to something like once a guard, always a guard. Thanks for all the norwegian reaction clips you share. I really enjoy them.

6:44 When you realize those were bayonets 🤯

Hi I served in the kings guard in my youth. 3 months recruit training and 9 months active service, wich mainley is watch service by the royal castle, Skaugum where the crown prince family lives, Akershus fortress and in the summer season at Bygdøy kongsgård(kings farm) This units in the video is not ordinary units, they train for 6 months, and then is active for 6. Yoy saw 3 units here, the drill corps which drill with guns (Garrand rifles) the signal corps with straith horns without valves and drummers and the guards band which is a ordinary band setup. This units do not do ordinary service as soldiers, they travel around an make performances. The signal and the drill often do this together. The signal corps or one of then is on watch duty at the castle when the king is there, an play a fanfare when the king leave through the front gate or come in. In my time there king olav was the regent. He mistly left through the back gate, besause then he could drive hinself instead of having a driver. He always left in a big black vintage american car with his dog, he always saluted the guard post with his hat. The police guars wich followed hin drove behind in a volvo. By the way, this was not the best performanc i have seen from the drill corps, look for more wideos, an you will probably fins som far more impressing

The music is from the movie the good, bad and the ugly with Clint Eastwood😄. And this is the kings guard that protect the king, Queen and the rest of the royal family👍

02:26 What is more impressive that all of these are conscripted soldiers. I.e. these are not professionals with years of experience - but only serve total for a little over a year (I don't remember exactly how many months...16 months?)

The last march they play (Gammel Jegermarsj/"Old Jäger March") is a march that I think every marching band in the whole of Norway plays on the 17th of May. It's very traditional

You were right about the tune being like an old western, because it is, it's the good, the bad and the ugly. They usually add in a popular song for fun, they have also done super mario bros, the mandalorian, star wars etc..

Despite the fact that this Norwegian troop is among the best in the world they are only in service for one year, (all Norwegian men AND women are obligated to serve in the army for one year) which means that many wonder how on earth they keep coming up the best year after year. This is an international competition - hence the flags. Women are welcome but few apply because of the demanding rifle gymnastics.

It is the King's Guard, 3rd company

Displays like these come from the time when tight drills in formation was essential to military performance and such displays like these were a way to show how good your soldiers were

Stomping is important for synchronization, it is a timing mark to verify everyone is in unison

They usually play something very famous, and something Norwegian. They always finish with Gammel Jeger Marsj ( Old Hunter's March)

And the impressive thing with the throwing and twirling is that theyre doing it with baconet fixed. Meanings its a real chance of cutting yourself

You should watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo

"Gammel Jegermarsj" always gives me goosebumps! It, together with "Gardemarsj", reflects our pride as a nation, and having served the army. I served in HMKG myself in the early eighties. Later a couple of periods for the UN forces in Lebanon. It's in the bloodstream now.

The tune you recognized is invariably known as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” or “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”. The same tune is used for the children's song “Runaway Train”. You might have heard it performed by United States Marines Band or in a movie, most prominently used in Die Hard With a Vengeance.

The drill and music platoon have long and proud traditions in Norway. Only volunteers get in and you have to apply and audition to get in. They are conscripts who only serve 1 year and they train from dawn to dusk every single day, sometimes weekend included. As for the music they change it up every year except the march they are playing when marching in and marching out which is HMKG's own march called God Gammel Jegermarsj (Good old fashioned ranger march....or something like that). Also the tune they were playing were from an old western movie ;) Ennio Morricone.

''is this norwegian traditional military music?'' and they play the theme from the good the bad and the ugly and ultra american movie :D hehe . love ure content bro :D