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Many Soldiers around the world have possibly thought at least once in their military careers what it must be like to serve in other armies. Twenty U.S. Army Soldiers from the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command are now able to partially answer such a question because of recent joint training July 23 to 26 in Ingolstadt, Germany, with their German army counterparts.
The Soldiers gathered at Max Immelmann Kaserne to participate in four action-packed days of contests that mimic the physical and military testing that German soldiers must regularly undergo. For most, it was their first chance to get a front row seat to the training methods and standards of another army. Regardless of the novelty of the situation and differences in language, those involved were grateful for the chance to earn the coveted German Proficiency Badge.
“I’d recommend it to anybody. It was a great experience to interact with other soldiers,” said U.S. Army Spc. Scott Clark, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Service Co., 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
The German Proficiency Badge allows non-German Soldiers to experience physical fitness and weapons qualification testing similar to what the Bundeswehr, or German armed forces, put their own troops through. Fitness events included a 3k run, the shot or stone put, long jump, high jump and sprinting. Any hopes of catching some rest after the trip to Max Immelmann Kaserne in Ingolstadt were quickly put aside, however, as the busy schedule planned by organizers dictated otherwise.
“After we arrived, had lunch, and were assigned rooms, we had to complete a 12-kilometer road march,” said U.S. Army Maj. Manny Ortiz, the G4 deputy for the 10th AAMDC.
As demanding as a ruck march within hours of arrival may have been, it might have been one of the easier physical tests soldiers had to endure. Ortiz said any participant who had failed to prepare for the jumping and sprinting events, thinking they would be like a Sunday walk in the park, was sadly mistaken.
The four days spent training with their new German friends passed quickly according to many participants, and a greater appreciation for those allies wearing a different uniform was a common refrain among 10th AAMDC Soldiers. Any preconceptions about the German soldiers being considerably different were also put to rest.
“Getting to meet and spend time with the Germans, as I had never met my military counterparts, is what I’ll remember most. Everybody was extremely nice,” Clark said.
Ortiz agreed, noting that he had trained with the armed forces of many countries before coming to Ingolstadt for his initial encounter with the German armed forces. While those previous training opportunities had been beneficial, he said they now take a back seat. “This is the best experience (training) that I’ve had since I came to Germany,” he said.
