Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army North Carolina National Guard Soldier Major Karen Schlobohm, a senior...... read more read more
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – A select group of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers along with German soldiers, assigned to the multinational battle groups under NATO command, were awarded for achieving the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and U.S. Army Marksmanship Badge, Sept. 13, 2015, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.
To earn the proficiency badge, U.S. Soldiers had to complete a 100-meter swim while wearing their full duty uniform in under four minutes, and also compete in events testing their marksmanship, physical fitness and a ruck march for endurance. German soldiers, assigned to MNBG-W, took the opportunity during their deployment to qualify on the U.S. Army standard issued M9 pistol and M16A2 rifle in order to earn the U.S. Army marksmanship badge. In both instances, participating and earning the badges for these events is a rare occurrence for the two multinational forces.
“This is a really good chance for U.S. Soldiers to prove their military proficiencies in a multinational environment,” said 1st Lt. Michael Kleber, a German liaison officer assigned to work with the battle groups and one of the certified coordinators for the GAFB event.
“Competing in the GAFB is a good way to continue building the relationship between the respective multinational forces here,” he said.
These multinational events, when available, provide team building and lasting memories. Competing in the GAFB was a way for Soldiers to test the boundaries of their training in a way that would challenge them personally.
“I wanted to challenge myself by competing in the GAFB and finish all the events,” said Spc. Jasmine Cardenas, a flight medic from F Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, out of Clearwater, Florida. “I feel great now that I have had a chance to participate."
Cardenas, who earned a gold GAFB, said she is ready to move on to the next challenge that awaits her.
“When you start each event for the GAFB, you realize just how difficult and challenging they are,” said 1st Lt. Rick Williams, the executive officer for the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, assigned to MNBG-E.
After completing the GAFB successfully and earning the gold, he said the 100-meter swim and parts of the physical fitness events proved to be the most challenging.
Joint training with other multinational forces establishes one of the main lines of effort for strengthening the relationships among the battle groups conducting peacekeeping missions under NATO authority for providing a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo.
After the badges for both events were awarded, Soldiers from both military forces congratulated each other and shared candid moments for having had the opportunity to work, train and achieve such an accomplishment together.
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2015 12:04 |
| Story ID: | 176967 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, US Soldiers and German armed forces earn multinational badges, by SSG Erick Yates, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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