Fort Sill Soldiers compete for prestigious German badge

By Sgt. Joe Dees, 214th Fires BrigadeSeptember 4, 2014

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier swims during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge qualification process. Competitors swam 100 meters wearing the Army Combat Uniform in four minutes, after which they treaded water and removed their outer uniform without touching the s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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FORT SILL, Okla. (Sept. 4, 2014) -- Forty-four Soldiers from across the 214th Fires Brigade and Reynolds Army Community Hospital here recently spent three grueling days working to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

Qualification for the sports badge required competitors to successfully complete six separate events, including a 100-meter swim, the German military physical training (PT) test, a ruck march and pistol qualification. Competitors had to demonstrate proficiency in combat lifesaving and the use of chemical weapons protective equipment.

Unit leaders carefully screened their ranks for their most physically fit and qualified contenders. To understand the difficulty of earning the award, of the 44 Soldiers who began, only 28 were awarded badges. Further, only five qualified for the gold medal.

The badge is awarded in three classes -- gold, silver and bronze -- each with its own set of standards based on the scoring of each discipline.

"Events like this are a great way to reward hard working Soldiers and build morale," explained event organizer Capt. Joseph Barnes, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion. "It is also an incredible opportunity to work hand-in-hand with our German allies on Fort Sill and strengthen the ties between our organizations and nations."

The qualification process kicked off with what many found to be the most difficult event, the 100-meter swim. It required competitors to swim four laps in four minutes at Rinehart Fitness Center Pool wearing the Army Combat Uniform before removing their outer uniform while treading water.

"The swim was far more difficult than it looked," said 1st Lt. Gregory King, 609th Forward Support Company. "You look at the pool and it doesn't seem that far and four minutes sounds like a lot of time, but that all changes when you hit the water!"

The following day found the remaining competitors back at the Rinehart Fitness Center to take the German Military's PT test. It consisted of a shuttle sprint, flexed arm hang and 1,000-meter run. Though some were sore from the swimming event, competitors found themselves motivated and determined to succeed, finding strength and determination in friends and former strangers.

"On the surface this looks like an individual event," said 2nd Lt. Jeffrey Li, B Company, 168th BSB. "But, once you're out here you find that everyone is motivating one another, making new friends and building brigade cohesiveness."

Before daylight on the final day of qualification, the remaining competitors met at Three Mile Track to weigh their rucksacks in preparation for the final physical fitness event. The distance required and time allowed for the ruckmarch were dependent on whether competitors were competing for gold, silver or bronze, a dependency that seemed to be the only topic of conversation among the stretching Soldiers.

"Two laps and change for gold," one would say; "yep, not bad at all" would be the confident reply. To which another would remark, "Just watch your pace and know where you need to be at what time and jog the downhills to catch up."

After sunrise and numerous congratulations, the exhausted Soldiers were trucked to the pistol range where dreams were often hit or missed by weary arms working to steady the M9, 9mm pistols.

For many it was their first time firing a pistol, a challenge that was overcome with determination and competent coaching by experienced battle buddies. The event proved costly for many of the competitors who left nothing on the table qualifying for gold in all events, but falling to silver or even bronze by a single shot that hit just wide of the silhouette.

"It was definitely a challenge," remarked Sgt. Victor Alvarado, 578th Forward Support Company. "I would recommend it to anyone because it forces you to push yourself further and improve yourself as a Soldier."

Two-thirds of those who tried did just that and only 11 percent achieved the pinnacle of gold. Still, all 28 Soldiers who earned that shining, laureled German Eagle will wear it with pride upon their Army Service Uniforms no matter if it is bronze, silver or gleaming gold.