Individual Military & Veterans License

The Individual Military & Veterans License is intended for people interested in developing Nordic Walking among service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, military families, caregivers, survivors, civilian employees, and supporters of the military and veteran community.

This license can serve as the starting point for a new Nordic Walking Group, with the opportunity for future development and official recognition by NWANA.

The annual fee for this individual license is $20. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

Depending on the person initiating the group and its intended audience, it may become:

• a group affiliated with an official military organization;

• a group belonging to a specific veterans organization;

• an independent community group for service members, veterans, and their families.

This Individual License is issued by NWANA. It is not a government or military license and does not indicate endorsement by the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, any branch of the Armed Forces, or another government organization.

Three Possible Group Formats

1. Official Military Organization Group

This type of group may be created for a specific military installation, unit, Reserve or National Guard organization, military educational institution, or another official military organization.

The group may serve service members, civilian employees, family members, and other participants approved by the organization.

A page using the name of a military installation, unit, or another official organization will be created and published only after permission has been received from an authorized representative or the appropriate command.

Obtaining an Individual License does not provide:

• access to a military installation;

• permission to conduct activities on military property;

• authority to act on behalf of a unit or command;

• permission to use an official name, seal, emblem, logo, or other military symbol;

• confirmation of support or endorsement by the Department of Defense or a branch of the Armed Forces.

The military organization determines the location, schedule, format, participant access, use of facilities, and other operating conditions.

2. Veterans Organization Group

This type of group is created for a specific veterans organization, center, post, chapter, or local branch.

It may serve veterans, organization members, family members, caregivers, volunteers, and other participants approved by the organization.

The group becomes the veterans organization’s own Nordic Walking Group and develops within the NWANA system.

The organization’s name, logo, facilities, and other resources may be used only with its permission. If the person initiating the group is not an authorized representative, NWANA must receive the organization’s approval before publishing a page under its name.

The term Veterans Service Organization may have a specific official meaning. Therefore, NWANA does not represent an organization as a VA-recognized VSO unless that status has been verified.

3. Independent Military & Veterans Community Group

An independent group may be created by service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, military spouses, families, caregivers, survivors, civilian employees, and community supporters.

This group does not need to belong to a military installation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or an existing veterans organization.

An independent group:

• uses its own neutral name;

• does not use another organization’s official emblems or logos;

• does not claim an affiliation with a specific military installation, unit, or government organization;

• does not represent itself as an official Armed Forces or VA program;

• clearly identifies itself as an independent community group.

An independent group may be named after its location or community, such as Tampa Bay Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group.

Its page must clearly state that the group is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any branch of the Armed Forces.

Who Can Obtain This License

The license may be obtained by:

• an active-duty service member;

• a veteran or military retiree;

• a reservist or National Guard member;

• a military spouse or family member;

• a caregiver or survivor;

• a civilian employee of a military or veterans organization;

• an employee or volunteer of a veterans organization;

• a participant in an existing military or veteran program;

• another person with a genuine interest in developing Nordic Walking for the military and veteran community.

During the initial stage, NWANA does not require proof of military service to obtain an Individual License.

However, a person may not claim a military or veteran status they do not have, represent an official organization without permission, or create a false impression of government endorsement.

Service members, reservists, National Guard members, and government employees participate in a personal capacity unless the appropriate organization officially determines otherwise. They remain responsible for following the applicable rules of their service.

What Happens After You Obtain the License

After registration, NWANA records the first interested person, the proposed group format, and its location.

The first license demonstrates genuine interest. It does not mean that a military installation, unit, the VA, or a veterans organization has approved the group or entered into an agreement with NWANA.

NWANA does not create pages in advance for every military installation, veterans organization, and geographic area. Work on a page begins only after at least one genuinely interested participant has registered.

The next steps depend on the selected group format:

• for an official military group, NWANA obtains permission from the appropriate organization;

• for a veterans organization group, NWANA confirms approval from its authorized representative;

• for an independent group, a neutral name and appropriate location are selected.

After that:

• a dedicated Nordic Walking Group page may be created;

• other service members, veterans, family members, and supporters will be able to find and join the group;

• participants can gradually determine the most appropriate format for their activities;

• the group can gain access to NWANA education, standards, and programs;

• participants can create teams and enter competitions;

• the group may organize its own competitions if it chooses;

• the group may eventually pursue official recognition by NWANA.

The Individual License belongs to the person. An official organizational group belongs to the corresponding organization. An independent group belongs to its local community. Recognized status is granted separately to the group.

Individual license holders may register for and participate in NWANA in-person and virtual competitions in accordance with the rules of each event. They receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

If a separate athlete license is required for a particular competition, this requirement will be stated in the event rules. The athlete license can be obtained through https://license.nwaofna.org/.

No Mandatory Requirements at the Initial Stage

During the initial stage of group development, NWANA does not require a minimum number of participants, a regular activity schedule, a minimum number of events, an appointed leader, or any other level of activity.

Obtaining the license does not require a person to create a group, become its leader, conduct sessions, organize walks, competitions, or other activities.

At the same time, the license does not prevent the holder from doing so. A license holder may choose to initiate an independent group or, after the appropriate permission has been received, help establish a group for a military or veterans organization.

The purpose of the initial stage is to identify genuine interest and give people an opportunity to begin connecting without initial obligations.

Role of NWANA

NWANA views Nordic Walking not simply as walking with poles, but as a sport and fitness discipline that requires proper technique and an understanding of movement.

NWANA provides:

• education through the NWANA Nordic Walking Academy;

• Nordic Walking technical and instructional standards;

• instruction in proper pole technique;

• instructor education and assessment;

• assistance with identifying and correcting technical errors;

• guidance for organizing general sessions and walks;

• competition rules;

• competitions, results, and rankings;

• support for groups interested in developing their own competitions;

• a unified system for the development and recognition of Nordic Walking Groups.

NWANA’s methods and educational programs are based on the practical experience of international-level athletes, including World Championship winners and medalists and competitors in other major events.

This experience helps participants and future instructors understand changes in technique, coordination, breathing, pole action, and load distribution at different speeds, on varying surfaces, and under changing weather conditions.

The Individual License for group development is not an instructor certification. Requirements for individuals who will officially teach Nordic Walking or conduct sessions using NWANA methods are administered separately through the NWANA educational system.

Medical and Rehabilitation Programs

NWANA does not create medical, treatment, or rehabilitation programs for service members or veterans.

If a VA hospital, military hospital, rehabilitation center, or another healthcare organization decides to use Nordic Walking in its program, that organization independently determines:

• who may participate;

• medical indications and contraindications;

• the intensity and duration of physical activity;

• the required level of supervision;

• healthcare personnel requirements;

• safety procedures;

• the handling of medical information.

NWANA may educate the organization’s professionals in proper Nordic Walking technique, but it does not make clinical decisions or replace qualified healthcare professionals.

Such programs also follow the principles of the Individual Healthcare License.

The Individual Military & Veterans License:

• is not a healthcare license;

• does not confirm a person’s medical readiness for physical activity;

• does not replace medical clearance;

• does not authorize medical treatment or rehabilitation;

• does not authorize claims that NWANA or Nordic Walking treats diseases, injuries, PTSD, or other conditions.

Use of Names and Symbols

Official military seals, emblems, logos, unit insignia, mottos, and other protected identifiers must not be used without the appropriate permission.

Obtaining an Individual License does not authorize a person to:

• combine the NWANA logo with an official military emblem;

• use the seal of the Department of Defense or a military department;

• design a page to appear as though it is operated by the government;

• claim an official partnership or endorsement;

• use official military marks for promotion or fundraising.

If official permission has been received, military symbols may be used only within the scope of that authorization.

Programs in other countries must follow the rules of the applicable Armed Forces, government authorities, and jurisdictions.

Safety and Privacy

A standard Nordic Walking Group page is not intended to collect or store:

• military service records;

• Social Security numbers;

• copies of DD Form 214;

• military identification numbers;

• information about military operations or deployments;

• restricted unit information;

• medical records;

• VA disability ratings;

• diagnoses or other confidential information.

For the initial registration, ordinary contact information and a voluntarily disclosed connection to the military or veteran community are sufficient.

If a specific official program later requires verification of participant status, the necessary information will be collected separately by the authorized organization under its own policies.

Sensitive information that has not been approved for public release will not be published on the group’s public page.

Participating in and Organizing Competitions

Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Groups will be able to participate in NWANA competitions, create teams, and organize their own in-person and virtual Nordic Walking competitions.

Organizing competitions is not mandatory. Each group decides which activities it wants to create and when it is ready to do so.

If a group operates under the name of a specific military or veterans organization, its competitions are coordinated with that organization.

A group interested in conducting an official NWANA competition will be able to contact NWANA separately. Rules, conditions, and opportunities for conducting official competitions will be published at a later stage.

Competition participation is a separate, voluntary decision. It is not considered a military duty, government program, medical treatment, or rehabilitation.

Holders of an active Individual License receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

Future RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to a group, not to an individual license holder.

During the initial stage, a group may form and develop without this status and without an annual fee. When the group is ready to operate according to NWANA standards, it may apply for official recognition.

Requirements for recognized groups, the education of responsible individuals, the use of NWANA methods, and the delivery of sessions will be established and published separately. These requirements do not apply to obtaining the initial Individual License.

The annual $200 fee applies only after a local group receives RECOGNIZED status. It does not apply to the Individual License or to a group that is still in the initial development stage.

The status means:

RECOGNIZED by NWANA as a Nordic Walking Group.

It does not mean:

• endorsement by the Department of Defense;

• endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs;

• official status within the Armed Forces;

• recognition as a Veterans Service Organization;

• permission to use military or government symbols;

• medical or rehabilitation accreditation.

If a program is intended to cover multiple military installations, units, posts, chapters, organizations, or a larger geographic area, its structure will be considered separately and may be established through a special agreement with NWANA.

Financial Administration of Programs

Obtaining an Individual License does not create any financial obligation for a military organization, the VA, or a veterans organization.

Military and government funds, organizational budgets, veterans benefits, and payments for healthcare services are not administered by NWANA.

If an NWANA-created page is used to collect payments for licenses, competitions, educational products, or other NWANA programs, those payments will initially be processed through the NWANA system.

Payments to NWANA are not donations to the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, a military installation, unit, or another organization.

Fundraising on behalf of a specific military or veterans organization is possible only with its permission and through a separate arrangement.

What This License Provides

The Individual Military & Veterans License gives you an opportunity to:

• demonstrate genuine interest in developing Nordic Walking within the military and veteran community;

• become the first potential participant in a future group;

• propose the creation of a group for a specific military or veterans organization;

• establish an independent Military & Veterans Community Group;

• help prepare a dedicated group page;

• bring together service members, veterans, family members, caregivers, and supporters;

• participate in organizing and developing the group if you choose;

• gain access to the NWANA educational and methodology system;

• create teams and participate in NWANA competitions;

• organize in-person and virtual Nordic Walking competitions if the group chooses;

• receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees;

• help establish a Nordic Walking Group with the opportunity for future official recognition by NWANA.