Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Sean Smith, 1st Battalion, 351st Aviation Regiment, 166th Aviation Brigade...... read more read more
By Capt. Michael D. Bales, 166th Aviation Brigade, First Army Division West
FORT BLISS, Texas — A few Division West aviation Soldiers recently earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency and Marksmanship Badge during an event hosted by the German Air Defense School at Fort Bliss, Texas.
The German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (“Das Abzeichen fur Leistungen in Truppendienst”) tests a Soldiers’ physical and mental toughness, requiring them to dig deep in order to qualify.
Only German and Allied Soldiers who successfully complete a combat lifesaver test, 110-meter shuttle run, 1000-meter sprint, flexed-arm hang, 12-kilometer ruck march, 100-meter swim in uniform, and pistol marksmanship qualification earn the badge.
Soldiers must complete all events within a prescribed time to earn points, earning a gold, silver or bronze badge according to their overall score.
"I fell short of the gold standard for some events while practicing, but the added adrenaline of competing, especially with young ROTC cadets, was enough to push me over the top," said Lt. Col. Sean Smith, commander, 1st Battalion, 351st Regiment, 166th Aviation Brigade.
The German Armed Forces Badge for Marksmanship (“Schutzenschnur”) is earned for proficiency firing the G36 rifle, P8 pistol and MG3 machine gun. Depending on the number of targets successfully engaged with each weapon, the Soldier can earn a gold, silver or bronze badge.
The 1-351st Soldiers were grateful to German Master Sgt. Thomas Schade and the entire German Air Defense School for allowing the Nighthawks to participate in the marksmanship tests.
"It was an honor to compete for and earn this badge, particularly as both my dad and wife earned it previously," said Capt. Mike D. Bales, 1st Battalion, 351st Aviation Regiment.
During the three-day event, Smith, Bales, and Sgt. 1st Class Demis A. Valdez, 1st Battalion, 351st Regiment, earned the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles M. Day, Sgt. 1st Classes Anthony D. Linton, Joseph A. Tijerina, Demis A. Valdez, and Spc. Lashawn D. Frazier, all earned German Armed Forces Badges for Marksmanship.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2015 17:17 |
| Story ID: | 159015 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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