MARZARE-E SHARIF, Afghanistan – Ten soldiers from the Headquarters Company 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and B Company 427th Brigade Support Battalion qualified for the Schützenschnur, the German weapons proficiency badge with the Marmal Panzer Task Force in Mazare-e Sharif, Camp Marmal, Afghanistan.
Sgt. Benjamin Mayer, a native of Weikersheim, Germany, and the Supply Sergeant for Headquarters Company of the 18th CSSB, volunteered as a liaison with the PATF to get the information to participate in the qualifications held in Mazare-e Sharif.
The soldiers of the 18th CSSB who participated comprised of Spc. Angel Montanez, Sgt. Benjamin Mayer, Spc. Isaac Adams, Sgt. Matthew Skilling and Sgt. Canille Warde, all from Headquarters Company, 18th CSSB out of Grafenwoehr, Germany, and Pfc. Troy Harriott, Pfc. Stephanie Luis, Pfc. Simeon Taylor, Spc. Brandon McMullen, and Sgt. Benjamin Krystaf all of Bravo Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion out of the New York National Guard.
The qualification for the Schützenschnur is a multi-weapon event for the Americans. Depending on qualification scores, the badge is awarded with either a bronze, silver, or gold device and is worn with a cord by U.S. enlisted soldiers on their dress uniforms.
The German word “schützenschnur” translates to English in two parts. “Schütze” translates to rifleman and “schnur” to “cord”. The award is similar to the US Army’s Blue Infantry Cord
The 10 soldiers of the 18th CSSB that participated qualified for the “Gold” Schützenschnur badge.
The Kompaniechef, or Company Commander, of the PATF, Hptm. (Capt.) Glawatz, said “I am, as I am sure that all of my comrades are, glad to have had this chance to work together with all of you. Events like these build upon the relationships between our armies and the countries, and we hope that all of you that participated feel the same way.”
Mayer, who helped by translating for the event stated, “I knew that they have had other ranges for other American forces, but of course, I would help [everyone set this range up].”
The soldiers from B/427th BSB, were especially glad to be able to get this opportunity. As National Guardsmen, they rarely get the opportunity to train with foreign force and even more rarely get the chance to earn to the German schützenschnur.
“One thing that is good about this, was that we are going to be some of the very few people in the company back home (in N.Y.) to have [the badge] on my uniform.” Stated McMullen “In a lot of ways, this experience made the whole deployment worthwhile.”