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Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group were invited by their German Army counterparts from the 31st German ABN Brigade to join them on the Schützenschnur range for two days of weapons and military familiarization training Feb. 17 and 18 in Oldenburg, Germany.
These units are no strangers to working and training with one another.
“The 31st is a steady airborne partner of the 435th CRG, they come down and jump with us about four or five times a year, not to include the annual international jump week when other NATO counties join us to train, earn and exchange each other’s jump wings,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Klimaski, 435th CRG air operations planner.
The 31st German ABN Brigade holds the Schützenschnur qualification several times a year and invites the U.S. troops to join, but due to the operations tempo, the CRG only gets to join them about once a year, according to Sergeant Klimaski.
The two days of training consist of one full day of weapons and equipment familiarization, to ensure that the Airmen are prepared for the practical portion of the challenge.
“We got some familiarization of the pistol and the rifle that we will be using. Today we are going to go out and fire their ‘courses of fire,’ in the attempt to earn the Schützenschnur badge,” said Senior Master Sgt. John Storms, 435th Security Forces Squadron.
The Schützenschnur course and badges are awards presented to those who qualify on the range. There are three tiers of the Schützenschnur: gold, silver and bronze.
“We came out here to attempt to earn the Schützenschnur badge, which is a German award, awarded to the sharpshooters, or experts that shoot and qualify with the T36 rifle, as well as their P8 pistol,” said Staff Sgt. Stephen Baker, 435th SFS. “It would be a great achievement if we all walked away with gold Schützenschnur, but either way we are going to come out with something, it is going to be a good trip.”
Aside from training and getting a chance to work together, the camaraderie shows through the members with a sense of friendly rivalry as well. While on the Schützenschnur course, one of the German Army instructors, Oberfeldwebel (E-7) Robert Franz challenged Maj. Jason Medsger, commander of the 435th Security Forces Squadron to a shoot off, for some friendly competition.
“He challenged me to a duel with the German rifle on the Schützenschnur range,” Major Medsger said.
Unfortunately, the U.S. major succumbed to the experience and training of the Oberfeldwebel.
“We don’t need to go into detail how badly he beat me, but he beat me,” Major Medsger said.
With all of the time invested, training exchanged and friendly competition between them, these German and American troops appreciate the opportunities they are having a chance to experience and look forward to fostering their partnership.
“This is a great opportunity to train with these guys, giving us the chance to shoot their weapons, and learn from them is something that you don’t come by very often and we are very grateful,” Major Medsger said.
All members of the CRG that participated in this event qualified to wear the Schützenschnur badge.
