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FORT BLISS, Texas – For the past 10 years the men and women stationed at the German Air Force Air Defense Center here have given back to the Fort Bliss community by hosting competitions for American service members to compete for the German Armed Forces Proficiency badge and the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency.
“It is nice that we can give back to our comrades,” said German Air Force Lt. Col. Martin Herter, deputy commander, GAFADC. “We are a small unit, and we can’t offer much, so being able to host these competitions for our badges makes us proud.”
The German Air Force has had a presence at Fort Bliss since the late 1950s when they began training their air defense personnel here.
The GAFPB is awarded to German military personnel who demonstrate they have met the proficiency requirements to be a soldier. The badge is authorized for wear by American military personnel who meet the qualification standards.
“The GAFPB is our PT test,” said German Master Sgt. Thomas Schade, noncommissioned officer in charge, GAFADC. “However, we have the entire year to do the events, not just a few days.” If German Soldiers cannot pass their proficiency test, they face discharge from their service.
“In 2006, at the request of the head of the (Fort Bliss) NCO Academy, we held the GAFPB competition for their instructors,” said Herter. “Over the years we have increased the number of participants to about 80 each iteration,” he said.
The most recent competition for the GAFPB took place March 8-11, and drew Soldiers, Airmen and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets from around Texas and New Mexico. The events, which included a 100-meter swim, track and field events, marksmanship, and a ruck march, tested the participant’s physical stamina, muscular endurance, as well as their marksmanship abilities. By the end of the week 71 of them had prevailed and were awarded badges.
“It was harder than I expected,” said Sgt. Sarah Powell, 178th Human Resources Company, who was awarded a silver badge. “But everyone here wanted to be here.”
For many of the competitors, the hardest event was the swimming event.
“That swim was a smoker,” said Air Force Capt. Jonathan Plyer, Desert Defender, Ground Combat Readiness Training Center. “I grew up in the water, but swimming with your uniform on is harder than I thought it would be.”
The swim test was so difficult for many Americans to pass, the Germans added a “zero day” to the GAFADC competition. Participants now must pass the swim portion, consisting of a 100-meter swim within four minutes while in uniform then taking the uniform off while treading water, before being allowed to start the competition.
To help the participants prepare for the competition, the German airmen hold training sessions during the weeks prior to the event, where they go over each event and help the participants train.
While the training was not mandatory, it was helpful and appreciated by the Americans. “Each event presented challenges to our Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Craig Saccento, 93rd MP Battalion, at the awards ceremony. “Many of us would not be here today if it weren’t for your willingness to train us.”
Sgt. Maj. John Eastwood, 93rd MP Battalion, echoed Saccento. “It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to compete for this badge here at Fort Bliss.”
The honor of being able to compete for a foreign badge is what drove many of the participants to compete.
“It’s something different that not everyone gets to put on their uniform,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Grace Taylor, Desert Defender, Ground Combat Readiness Training Center.
The Germans agreed with her. “My Soldiers have been able to compete for the American Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge, and American shooting badges because they are here,” said Herter. “It’s special to earn a foreign badge for your uniform.”
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2016 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 192749 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 47 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Germans give back to Fort Bliss with badges, by Corinna Baltos, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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