FORT SILL, Cannoneer (Oct. 23, 2014) -- Drill sergeants and cadre from two 434th Field Artillery Brigade battalions tested for the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency Aug. 25-28.
At the end of the four-day, grueling physical testing, eight Soldiers from F Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery qualified, and they were presented their badges Oct. 17 at Watson Hall here.
Winners from D/1-31st FA were scheduled to receive their badges at a ceremony this week.
Drill Sergeant (Staff Sgt.) Sophia Marinakes, F/1-40th FA, was one of the Soldiers who earned the badge.
"I chose to participate because it was something new and challenging," said Marinakes, who also had competed for Fort Sill Drill Sergeant of the Year. "It was a little difficult, but it was fun."
The testing was administered German Army Capt. Dominik Zeilmann, German Air Force Air Defense Center Training Detachment Fort Sill commander.
He said earning the badge is an annual requirement for German service members and it is a yearlong process there. The requirements are roughly equivalent to the U.S. Army's physical fitness test, common warrior tasks and weapons qualifications all rolled into one.
"Basically, the testing promotes all the skills you should be able to do, so you have to be good at everything," Zeilmann said.
The physical testing was a series of events where competitors had to achieve standards to earn a bronze, silver or gold badge. Seven of the eight 434th FA Brigade competitors earned silver badges, another earned the bronze.
The 200-meter swim was challenging because competitors had to wear their ACUs and then remove their uniforms while in the water -- all under a time limit, Marinakes said.
Another event was the flexed arm hang where competitors had to hold their chin above a bar for one minute for males, and 45 seconds for women, said 1st Lt. Benjamin Lambert, F/1-40th FA executive officer.
Other testing involved shuttle sprints, 1k sprint, 9mm pistol qualification, and 12k ruck march with 35-pound packs.
Lambert said Soldiers are authorized to wear one foreign medal on the Army Service Uniform, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency was one he wanted.
"It's a quick way to look at a uniform and say, 'hey, this guy is physically fit,'" he said.
Although testing for the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency isn't uncommon for Forces Command Soldiers at Fort Sill, it is rare that it is available on the Training and Doctrine Command side of the post, said Capt. Craig McAlhaney, F/1-40th FA commander. He said he was proud of his drill sergeants who competed on their on time.
"Considering their packed training schedules, and that they were able to compete in their off cycle -- it was outstanding," McAlhaney said.
McAlhaney said he enjoys the partnership between the U.S. Army and the German army here.
"It's a great opportunity and they are available to use so it's an option for drill sergeants, cadre and NCOs."
Silver winners
1st Lt. Martin Campbell
1st Lt. Benjamin Lambert
Staff Sgt. Derick Dolph
Staff Sgt. Jacob Kelly
Staff Sgt. Sophia Marinakes
Staff Sgt. Mathew Meineke
Staff Sgt. Michelle Wheeler
Bronze winner
Sgt. Aaron Meyers
Social Sharing