Photo By Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson | Hauptmann Schroder presents Staff Sgt. Kyle Cook with his certificate and silver badge...... read more read more
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Partnership is more than just existing within the same space at the same time. Units at Camp Taji, Iraq, routinely partner with the German Armed Forces in community and training events, and the German Armed Forces provide and host the opportunity for U.S. service members to earn the Schϋtzenschnur.
The German Armed Forces Badge (GAFB) for Weapons Proficiency — Schϋtzenschnur is awarded to and worn by German service members of all ranks, and is one of a few foreign awards that may also be earned by U.S. service members and worn on their dress uniforms.
Staff Sgt. Kyle Cook and Spc. Alexander Burbanck, both from the 529th Support Battalion, participated in the GAFB-Weapons Proficiency event at Camp Taji, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2019.
“The overall experience of the GAFB-Weapons Proficiency event was phenomenal. From the moment that Staff Sgt. Cook and I received word that we were selected to attend this training, we were extremely excited,” said Spc. Alexander Burbanck.
The event is primarily organized and executed by German Soldiers — they prepare and run the range, manage ammunition, conducting weapon checks, coach and teach partner nation Soldiers, and serve as primary range safeties.
“The German Soldiers that we had the pleasure of meeting and received training from were composed and professional for the duration of the training. Even with English being their second language, they did their very best to give us proper instruction and direction” Burbanck said.
To earn the Schϋtzenschnur, Soldiers must participate and qualify on three selected German weapons, the P8 9mm pistol, the G36 5.56mm rifle, and the MG-5 7.62mm machine gun. Burbanck also fired two additional German weapons, an older MG-3 machine gun and a G-27 rifle.
At the end of all tests, scores are compiled and badges are awarded in three categories in accordance to performance in each event, gold, silver and bronze, with the lowest score being the badge earned.
Cook earned the silver weapons proficiency badge and Burbanck earned gold. Both agreed that the event was “absolutely amazing and fun.”
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2019 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 315529 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Aim and Fire - the Schϋtzenschnur, by SSG Roger Jackson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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