HOHENFELS, Germany -- The coveted German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency (Schuetzenschnur)was awarded to 11 Hohenfels Soldiers at a small ceremony here, Nov. 14.
The Schuetzenschnur is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, and is one of the few foreign awards that American Soldiers can display on their uniforms.
"Oberfeldwebel" (Sgt.1st Class) Robert Neumeier of the German Army Reservists, said his organization holds qualifying rounds for the Schuetzenschnur once a year, and depending on how many open slots they have, they offer invitations for their American counterparts.
"I had so many hands go up, and there were more on the waiting list who wanted to go," said Capt. Emma Parsons, U.S. Army Garrison Hohenfels Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander. "They were so excited for this opportunity."
The event consisted of five contests, two with a pistol, two with an assault weapon, and one with a rifle. The awarded grade is determined by the lowest weapon qualification, meaning if a Soldier qualifies all gold and one bronze, they are awarded the bronze.
"This is actually one of the things I wanted to achieve while I was over in Germany," said Sgt. Scott Myers, HHD, who earned a gold badge by only missing one shot throughout the event. "It's something I'll take with me the rest of my career. Only enlisted personnel can wear it; officers can earn it, but they can't wear it."
Sgt. Ligia Meza said she felt particularly proud as a woman to have earned the badge.
"It was a challenge," she said. "And to be able to do it with the big weapon…at my size…maybe I earned a little more respect for females in the Army."
Meza said she loves shooting and enjoyed the opportunity to train with different weapons, as well as sharing the experience with her German counterparts.
"It was really something that you don't have the chance all the time to do, to be on the German range and share with the other Soldiers," she said.
"I'm very excited to give these Soldiers these awards, not only because they shot and got qualified, but also because they acted as allied ambassadors with the German nationals, and I think that represents us very well," said Parsons.
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