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Twenty-first Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers tested their skills with two different German weapon systems at a German military marksmanship range May 27 in Idar-Oberstein, earning a “Schützenschnur,” or marksmanship award.
Soldiers from the German Joint Support Command trained and certified more than 50 Soldiers from the Special Troops Battalion, 21st TSC, on the German P8 9 millimeter pistol and the MG 3v 7.62 millimeter machine gun.
“The German Soldiers were real friendly and real patient with us,” said Sgt. Ryan Buerger, a human resource specialist for the 21st TSC. “They were very informative about the weapons, about their mechanics and how to engage the targets.”
The Schützenschnur award consists of a silver colored rope with a round metal badge near the top. The center of the badge displays the German eagle surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves, which is a symbol of the Bundeswehr, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany.
More than 50 U.S. Soldiers took part in the partnership range, which lasted all day and concluded with a barbecue. A brief ceremony was held at the end of the day to award the Soldiers who earned their Shützenschnur badges.
The Soldiers said they enjoyed the overall event and hope it will not be the last one they get to participate in.
The Schützenschnur dates back to 1996, when there was a continuing partnership with the former German Army Support Command and the then 21st Theater Army Area Command, which was the predecessor to the 21st Theater Support Command and the current 21st TSC.
