Photo By Lauren Harrah | Spc. Anna Ramirez, military police, 89th Military Police Brigade, fires the German G36...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas – With a loaded magazine in hand, Soldiers take one last moment to remember their fundamentals: steady position, sight picture, breathing and trigger squeeze. Anticipation builds as all falls quiet on the range. Soldiers take their first command from the tower and step forward to the firing line, picking up the German G36 rifle.
Soldiers of 1st Armored Division and of the New Mexico and Texas Army National Guard qualified for the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency or German Schützenschnur, Sept. 21-22, 2015 at McGregor Range, New Mexico.
“The shooting badge consists of three exercises, one with the rifle and two with the pistol,” said German Master Sgt. Thomas Schade, noncommissioned officer in charge, German Air Force Air Defense Center. “Today is the rifle. They must shoot 13 out of 16 for gold.”
Twice a year, German airmen of the German Air Force Air Defense Center, here, host the qualification, affording approximately 50 Soldiers, each rotation, the opportunity to earn the Schützenschnur by firing the G36 rifle from standing, kneeling, and prone positions, as well as the P8 pistol from both standing and prone positions. Soldiers receive gold, silver, or bronze distinction based on their lowest qualifying score.
The foreign weapons are not difficult to fire but Soldiers must remember to make small adjustments, explained range cadre. The main differences between the German rifle and it’s American equivalent lie in the weapon’s ergonomics. The G36 is an ambidextrous rifle with a fixed buttstock, unlike the M4 most U.S. Soldiers are accustomed to. Additionally, the G36 does not require fine adjustments or zeroing prior to qualification.
“We’ve done a pre-fire weapons overview, just working on how to hold the weapons, dry firing, and utilizing the optics,” said Spc. Cody Edwards, nodal network systems operator-maintainer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st AD.
If qualification, Edwards and his fellow Soldiers will be provided a memorandum permitting wear of the prestigious badge on the Army Service Uniform.
A unique experience and distinction said 1st Lt. Brandon Verschuer, small arms team officer in charge, 5th Armored Brigade, 1st AD, makes the Schützenschnur a highly sought after opportunity among U.S. Soldiers.
“There have been Soldiers calling to find out how many slots there are, when the next one is, and how can they get in,” said Verschuer, “Soldiers interested in earning the German proficiency badge can get more information by following the event Facebook page ‘German Badge FT Bliss,’ said Verschuer.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2015 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 177397 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 317 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1AD Soldiers earn German Schützenschnur, by Lauren Harrah, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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