COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A morning swim is always a great way to start the day. Texas A&M University cadets trying to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge agreed and did just that Nov. 10, 2015.
Cadets and local active duty soldiers gathered at the Student Rec Center at Texas A&M University early before their classes started to complete the 100-meter swim event of the GAFB. The event required them to swim 100 meters in full ACUs in less than four minutes, then take their ACUs off while treading water. While 100 meters was just two laps of the pool, it wasn’t as simple a task as the cadets assumed it would be.
“It was a little bit more challenging than I thought it would be,” remarked Cadet Cpl. Tyler Faulhaber, a sophomore from Garland, Texas. “I thought it would be simple, but you actually have to exert your energy more than I thought.”
Even though the event was tough, mainly due to the fact that while swimming, ACU trousers act as leg parachutes, the cadets found ways to overcome the exhaustion and completed the second of five tasks to earn the GAFB. The energy that goes into completing these tasks is enormous and the cadets’ participation is completely voluntary. The Corps’ leadership knows that these cadets are proving they have what it takes to be soldiers before they even commission.
“Gen. Odierno used to talk about the three C’s, and one of them is commitment” said Col. Michael Bottiglieri, department head and a professor of Military Science at A&M. “So, when you look at the commitment to say, ‘Hey, I’ll wake up early’ - because they still have to go class after this, or take exams after doing something pretty physical every morning - that says something about commitment. One, to learning about other services, two, to pushing myself physically, and three, doing above and beyond what everyone else is doing because they aren’t out there.”
Even with the exhaustion the cadets felt after the swim, they still knew they were taking part of something special, especially for cadets.
“[I feel] pretty awesome” gushed Cadet Maj. Luke Morrier, a senior at Texas A&M and a Plaistow, New Hampshire, native. “Obviously, most people in the U.S. Army don’t get to compete for the German badge, so I’m pretty pumped and happy the German officers put it on for us.”
The excitement of earning the badge is something that will carry the cadets through the end of the arduous week, but for completing the swim, Faulhaber said there is one key to success.
“Remaining calm in the water is key. If you stay calm, it’s not hard.”
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, the cadets will complete an 8-mile ruck march while carrying a 35-pound pack.
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.11.2015 16:06 |
| Story ID: | 181705 |
| Location: | COLLEGE STATION, TX, US |
| Hometown: | COLLEGE STATION, TX, US |
| Hometown: | GARLAND, TX, US |
| Hometown: | PLAISTOW, NH, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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