U.S. and German forces trained on Bundeswehr weapon systems and built personal friendships when the Bordeinsatzkompanie, a Maritime Operations Company, and 8th Medical Logistics Company, 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, teamed up to host a two-day Schützenschnur range.
Participating Soldiers had the opportunity to compete for the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency and the German Sports Badge by completing a 6-kilometer ruck march and various athletic events.
"Shortly after arriving in Europe last October, I quickly learned of the coveted Schützenschnur badge through my Soldiers," said 2nd Lt. Madison Hill, the event's officer-in-charge. "I contacted various people throughout 30th Medical Brigade; and I met with a Bundeswehr Sergeant Major working in Lager Aulenbach. Yet, I could not catch a lead. My luck took a turn when 421st MMB sent me to U.S. Army Europe's biannual Expert Field Medical Badge competition in Grafenwoehr. Two German Soldiers were assigned to my platoon, and we quickly became friends. When I returned back to Baumholder, we kept in contact, so I asked if there was any chance they could host a shooting event for us. To my surprise, KptLt Christian Hofmann obliged and quickly worked his chain to get the necessary approval."
Planning between Hill, Sgt. Asheil Allen, Hofmann, and his non-commissioned officer-in-charge HB Marc Thanh-Phong Nguyen, finally came into fruition when Bordeinzatzkompanie's team of nine Soldiers made the nine-hour trek from Hamburg to Baumholder, July 4.
Events kicked off the following morning at the indoor range where 51 Soldiers from 421st MMB qualified on the P8. Soldiers had a weapons familiarization course and were provided one-on-one coaching while shooting to ensure safety and success. Participants were required to score on at least three of five shots, hitting all three of the targets at least once to qualify for the minimum bronze badge.
The Soldiers competing for the two fitness badges also endured a series of three athletic events, to include a 10-meter shuttle run which required participants to drop to their stomachs every second turn, a flexed arm hang which maxed out at 70 seconds, and a 1000-meter run with a maximum score obtained by running 3 minutes, 35 seconds. The day was rounded out by a 6-kilometer ruck march in under one hour, including the mountains of Baumholder while carrying an extra 35 lbs.
Bordeinsatzkompanie and 421st MMB began the second day of events at the CP Range. In the same structure as the 9mm range--the Bordeinsatzkompanie provided dry instruction on the G36K and MP5. After which, Soldiers were provided nearly limitless opportunities to shoot both weapons until they obtained their desired scores. Each shot was scaled as 5 points, with a total of 10 shots from various distances, all from the standing position. A total of 40 points resulted in bronze award, 45 in a silver, and a perfect score in a gold. In order for Soldiers to earn an overall gold, they had to score at least gold in two individual shooting events. In the afternoon, 421st MMB welcomed Special Operations Command Forward -- North and West Africa to the range to allow their junior Soldiers to participate in the events. The favor was returned the following day when SOCFWD NWA received 421st MMB Soldiers on their range. In the end, 91 Soldiers from throughout 421st MMB and SOCFWD NWA, along with two United States Military Academy cadets, earned some degree of the badge.
8th MLC Soldiers said their farewells Friday morning during a potluck American breakfast and an award ceremony, where badges were received and thank you gifts exchanged. Ultimately, the Bordeinsatzkompanie provided a reason for the 421st MMB to travel north and reciprocate the favor. They also introduced new methods for running a range, some of which we hope to adopt. For the 8th MLC, the event boosted morale as Soldiers supported one another as they improved their confidence and competence on foreign weapons.
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