FORT BLISS, Texas – Spc. Darius Pittman of Melbourne, Fla., assigned to Echo Company, 123rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division participated in the German Armed Forces Sports Proficiency Badge or Deutsche Leisteingsabzeichen.
The GAFSPB is an Olympic style sporting competition recognized by gold, silver or bronze awards, and can be worn on the U. S. Army service uniform. The seven events of the GAFSPB include a 200-meter swim, 100-meter sprint, the long jump, three kilometer run, a pistol shooting competition and a 12- kilometer ruck march with a 33-pound backpack.
“I want to say that, in any physical event, I tend to push myself,” said Pittman.
Pittman’s tendency to push himself showed during the three-kilometer run Wednesday where he took first place in the male run category with a run time of 11:13.
Pittman recalls he began playing football for the first time when he was 6 or 7 years old. He competed in track and field events his last two years of secondary education at Palm Bay High School, and his first year at Darton College.
Pittman enlisted in the U. S. Army as a radio and communications repairman and has deployed to Iraq where he received an Army Commendation Medal for his service.
“I like to have fun. That is why I am competing in the GAFSPB,” said Pittman.
The GAFSPB has been held at Fort Bliss eight times during the past three years by German air force personnel stationed here.