GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - The 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion "Warhammers" conducted a partnership range at the Grafenwoehr Training Area here with the German Bundeswehr Reservist Comando Oberpfalz soldiers in December.
The overall intent of the range was to promote unity between nations, help familiarize the German soldiers on American small arms weapons and to enhance the partnership that exists between the two militaries.
"We are quite thankful to participate in this U.S. Army event," said German army reserve soldier Staff Sgt. Josef Albang, who lives in Pfreimd, Germany, and works as a production manager.
The German reserve units normally get 14 days of weapons training each year. The training they conducted with the 18th CSSB covered the M9 pistol, M16 rifle and M249 squad automatic weapon.
"These systems are new to me, and I find them all very interesting," said German army reserve soldier Pvt. 1st Class Werner Uebelacker, who lives in Neukirchen, Germany, and works as a building manager.
"I really liked how into the event the Bundeswehr soldiers ... really absorbed all the training," said Spc. Dominique Martin, a native of Trier, Germany, who works as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company master driver in the 18th CSSB and acted as a translator during the weapons training.
"We are quite appreciative of this training and want to expand not only our military partnerships with the Soldiers of the 18th CSSB but also civilian friendships as well. For our entire lives we grew up with the U.S. Army as a presence here in Germany, and we feel it is a positive part of our lives," said German army reserve soldier 1st Lt. Markus Koch, who lives in Pfreimd, Germany, and works as a forest engineer.
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