One of the keys to being successful at Nijmegen is the training. Part of that training is making sure we have the right socks and footwear, the right system on our feet to serve us well. Not every person likes to wear the same things on their feet. People are different. But whatever you end up using to train with is what you need to stick with.
We've had people who have done 1,000 kilometres in training, and that includes back-to-back 40-kilometre marches as the final confirmation before they go. Everything is good to go. They get over there, and they hear about some other way another contingent might be doing things. There are certain techniques we may use to tape our feet—again, to provide that protection, that extra layer to protect us against blisters. Then when we change something, deciding there might be a better idea, the next thing you know, our feet are hamburger. You learn to trust your training, trust your leadership. When they say don't change a thing, make sure you do that.
We have learned new taping techniques for our feet from the Dutch. All of our medics are trained to do it now. We actually have a video of it, so it's something we'll maintain corporate knowledge of as we go forward.
I did not have my feet taped in training, but we never did four days in a row at 40 kilometres a day in training. The advice is to tape them the proper way, and off you go. The tape basically stayed on for those four days. I would shower in it. We would soak our feet. You saw in the ambassador's video a pair of feet soaking in a pool of water. I don't know whose feet those were. They both had painted toenails, I noticed, so they weren't his and they weren't mine.
However, I would leave that tape on. I'd put plastic bags over my feet, while I was soaking them at least. I had the temperature of the cooler water to help the swelling go down. But I went with the tape. We learned a lot about foot care.
In today's modern army, we tend to drive everywhere we go. We have LAVs and tanks. We have vehicles. But the light infantry still march. I think every soldier should still be able to march, and long distances would be a good thing. I think it's very important from that perspective.