Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of Nordic Walking Groups serving military members, veterans, military families, caregivers, survivors, civilian employees, and supporters of military and veteran communities.

The license applies to the group as a separate group within the NWANA system. It is a private NWANA group license and is not an individual participant license, a government or military license, a medical or rehabilitation license, a professional credential, or an athlete competition license.

Two Available Group Formats

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License supports two possible group formats.

Organization-Authorized Group

A group may be created within or in connection with a specific:

• military installation or military organization;

• officially operated military program;

• veterans organization;

• organization serving military members, veterans, or their families;

• other authorized military or veteran community program.

A group associated with a specific organization may be created only by that organization or with its permission.

Independent Community Group

An independent local group may be created to serve:

• active-duty service members;

• veterans;

• reservists;

• National Guard members;

• military families;

• caregivers and survivors;

• civilian employees;

• supporters of military and veteran communities.

An independent group does not need to be affiliated with a specific military or veterans organization. However, it may not use the name, logo, facilities, communication channels, or other resources of a specific organization without permission or present itself as an official military, government, or veterans organization program.

No Government or Military Endorsement

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License is issued by NWANA.

The license does not indicate approval, sponsorship, endorsement, or official affiliation with:

• a federal, state, provincial, or local government;

• a military department, service, branch, installation, or unit;

• a veterans affairs agency;

• a specific veterans organization;

• any other government or military authority.

The license does not provide access to military installations, government facilities, veterans benefits, healthcare services, internal programs, personnel information, communication systems, or other restricted resources.

Any authorized relationship with a specific organization must be established separately by that organization.

Authorization from a Specific Organization

A service member, veteran, family member, caregiver, employee, volunteer, supporter, authorized partner, or another eligible person may propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group within a particular military or veterans organization.

However, obtaining an Individual Military & Veterans License does not, by itself, authorize that person to:

• represent the organization;

• use its name, logo, facilities, participant lists, internal communication channels, or other resources;

• establish a group as an official program of the organization;

• make commitments or collect funds on behalf of the organization.

NWANA may request confirmation that the organization has authorized the creation of the group and the use of its identity.

How a Licensed Group Is Created

For an organization-authorized group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Military & Veterans License holder proposes the group and the selected organization authorizes its creation.

For an independent community group, formation may begin when at least one Individual Military & Veterans License holder expresses interest in developing Nordic Walking for military and veteran communities in the corresponding area.

After the appropriate authorization or independent group request is confirmed, NWANA creates the Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group, provides it with a group license, and creates a dedicated page within the NWANA system.

The first registered participant becomes the first licensed participant associated with the new group. This person does not automatically become the group’s owner, leader, instructor, coach, healthcare provider, or official representative and is not required to organize its activities.

Who the Group May Serve

An organization-authorized group serves the audience selected by the participating organization.

Depending on the organization’s authorization, this may include:

• service members and veterans;

• reservists and National Guard members;

• military and veteran families;

• caregivers and survivors;

• civilian employees;

• volunteers and program participants;

• other participants approved by the organization.

An independent community group may serve these populations and other people interested in supporting military and veteran communities.

Participation in an independent group does not imply military service, veteran status, government employment, or membership in a particular organization.

What the Group License Provides

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License allows the group to:

• operate within the NWANA system as a Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group;

• have a dedicated page for approved information, registration, news, programs, and events;

• welcome Individual Military & Veterans License holders;

• introduce Nordic Walking opportunities for military and veteran communities;

• organize walks, meetups, wellness activities, and community initiatives;

• invite appropriately qualified instructors and other professionals;

• use NWANA Nordic Walking education, technical standards, methods, and professional expertise;

• participate in NWANA programs and events;

• organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions;

• establish authorized volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives;

• develop gradually toward RECOGNIZED status.

Obtaining the group license does not require the organization or independent group to begin any activities immediately.

Cost of the Group License

The initial Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License is provided free of charge.

Creating the group and its dedicated page is also free. During the initial stage, the group does not pay an annual NWANA fee.

The $200 annual group license fee applies only after the group voluntarily receives RECOGNIZED status.

No Initial NWANA Requirements

Obtaining and maintaining the initial group license does not require NWANA to impose:

• a minimum number of participants;

• the immediate appointment of a group leader;

• an instructor, coach, healthcare professional, or judge;

• regular walks, classes, or training sessions;

• organized programs, events, or competitions;

• the collection of membership fees;

• an immediate application for RECOGNIZED status.

An independent group may begin with one interested participant and develop at its own pace.

An organization-authorized group may develop at a pace approved by the participating organization. That organization may establish its own requirements for leadership, access, staffing, safety, programs, and events.

Role of NWANA

NWANA provides the Nordic Walking foundation for the group.

NWANA may provide:

• Nordic Walking education;

• technical standards and methods;

• instruction in Nordic Walking technique;

• professional development opportunities for eligible instructors;

• sport, training, and competition expertise;

• support for the gradual development of the group;

• guidance toward possible RECOGNIZED status.

NWANA does not operate as a military, government, veterans affairs, medical, psychological, or rehabilitation authority through this group license.

Health, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Boundaries

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License is not a medical, psychological, treatment, therapy, or rehabilitation license.

NWANA does not diagnose medical or psychological conditions, prescribe treatment, determine participant eligibility for healthcare programs, or create medical, psychological, treatment, or rehabilitation programs through this group license.

If Nordic Walking is incorporated into a healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, adaptive, or recovery program, that program must be developed and supervised by the responsible organization and appropriately qualified professionals.

NWANA may provide Nordic Walking education, technical standards, methods, and professional expertise related to the Nordic Walking component.

Qualified Activities

The group license does not, by itself, authorize any participant to:

• teach Nordic Walking technique;

• provide professional instruction or coaching;

• deliver medical, psychological, therapeutic, or rehabilitation services;

• supervise programs requiring professional qualifications;

• serve as a judge.

A person must have the appropriate training, professional license, qualification, organizational approval, and any other required authorization to perform these activities.

The group may exist and develop before it has an instructor, coach, healthcare professional, or judge. Professional qualifications are not required for ordinary participation or authorized organizational and volunteer assistance.

Activities conducted under the name of a participating organization must comply with that organization’s authorization and policies.

Possible Areas of Development

Depending on the interests of the participants and the authorization provided by any participating organization, the group may gradually develop:

• introductory Nordic Walking activities;

• group walks and social meetups;

• wellness and physical activity programs;

• activities supporting community connection;

• adaptive and inclusive Nordic Walking opportunities;

• instruction provided by appropriately qualified professionals;

• educational events and workshops;

• participation in NWANA competitions and other events;

• its own in-person and virtual competitions;

• volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives.

None of these activities is required by NWANA for the group to maintain its initial license.

Group Events and Competitions

A Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group may organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions as it develops.

An organization-authorized group must conduct such activities with the permission of the participating organization.

An independent community group may conduct events and competitions in its own name. It may not present them as official military, government, veterans affairs, or veterans organization events without authorization.

If the group wishes to obtain separate designation for a competition as an official NWANA competition, that designation must be arranged separately in accordance with NWANA rules.

Financial Structure

During the initial stage, payments associated with group programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page are processed through NWANA.

After NWANA operating expenses, these funds may be used to support the group’s page, events, programs, and continued development.

Any fundraising, sponsorship, collection of fees, or other financial activity conducted under the name of a participating organization must be authorized by that organization.

If the group later receives RECOGNIZED status, it may be provided with expanded administrative capabilities and its own payment structure within the NWANA system, subject to any applicable arrangements with the participating organization.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the group and its NWANA group license, not to an individual participant.

Obtaining this status is optional. The group may remain at the initial stage for as long as necessary.

Authorization by a military or veterans organization and RECOGNIZED status from NWANA are separate designations. Neither designation replaces the requirements for obtaining the other.

The requirements and application process for NWANA RECOGNIZED status will be published separately at the appropriate stage of the program’s development.

After the group receives RECOGNIZED status, the annual cost of its NWANA group license is $200.

Difference from the Individual Military & Veterans License

The Military & Veterans Nordic Walking Group License applies to the group and is initially provided free of charge.

The Individual Military & Veterans License applies to a specific person and costs $20 per year. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

The Individual Military & Veterans License is intended for service members, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, military families, caregivers, survivors, civilian employees, volunteers, authorized partners, and supporters of military and veteran communities.

Military service, veteran status, or employment by a military or veterans organization is not required to obtain the individual license.

An Individual Military & Veterans License holder may:

• join an existing group;

• help propose an authorized group within a specific military or veterans organization;

• become the first licensed participant connected with the creation of an independent community group.

The individual license does not authorize its holder to represent a specific organization or create a group under that organization’s name without permission.

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.

Neither the individual license nor the group license is an athlete competition license. 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/.