2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment Soldiers partner with German colleagues for training and opportunity to

By Spc. Gerald WilsonJuly 27, 2016

REGEN, Germany -- The German Army's 112th Panzergrenadier Battalion welcomed their

partners from U.S. Army Europe's 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, here July 21 for

the first Schutzenschnur event conducted under the partnership program that brings U.S. and

German units together to enhance cooperation through training and social events.

The Schutzenschnur -- the German Armed

Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency -- is

one of several foreign awards U.S. military

personnel are authorized to wear on their

dress uniforms. To earn the badge, Soldiers

must successfully qualify with the

Bundeswehr's G36 German service rifle, P8

pistol and M3 machine gun. The award is

earned in gold, silver and bronze grades,

determined by how well each Soldier scores

firing the weapons.

Capt. Bernard A. Geist, the officer-in-charge

of the event, oversaw the firing, with his

Soldiers coaching and training their

American colleagues at each station.