1ID Soldiers get last shot at German marksmanship medal

BRUCK, Germany (Army News Service, Feb. 6, 2006) -- Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division and the 101st Military Intelligence Battalion braved cold, icy conditions to earn the Schutzenschnur German marksmanship in Bruck, Germany Feb. 1.

Since the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of 1st ID is scheduled to move to Fort Riley, Kansas, in the near future, this may be the last opportunity for many of the Soldiers to earn the award, said Staff Sgt. Larry Gormley, 1st ID noncommissioned officer in charge of civil military operations

The Schutzenschnur medal is awarded for qualifying on two German weapons -- usually a pistol and machine gun. Soldiers can earn the Schutzenschnur award in bronze, silver and gold. The award can be worn by Soldiers on the dress uniforms.

The 22 Soldiers who made the trip to Bruck last week to qualify for the Schtuzenschnur made it the best turnout Gormley has seen yet, he said.

“We usually only have about 10 Soldiers come out for this,” Gormley said. “It’s a great event for Soldiers, and it’s an award that looks great on their uniforms that they can wear and be proud of.”

With the pending 1ID move, Gormley said the 13th Panzer Division did everything possible to ensure maximum participation.

“Usually, we share the range with the German Soldiers, but this time out our partnership unit reserved the range for us for the entire day,” Gormley said.

Qualifying on the German weapons, especially the MG-3 machine gun, proved to be a difficult experience for some of the Soldiers.

“I’ve never fired a weapon that puts rounds downrange so quickly,” said Sgt. David Pierce, 1st ID intelligence analyst. “If you don’t learn how to maintain trigger discipline and put your full body weight behind the weapon, you will never qualify.”

Pierce said it was also difficult to get used to maintaining focus on the target when firing the German-made machine gun, but it’s important not to give up after the first try.

“The German sergeant major told us it takes a great deal of training and discipline to learn how to effectively fire that weapon system,” Pierce said.

In addition to learning how to fire German weapons, Gormley said the event also gives Soldiers the chance to interact with their German counterparts.

“They get to live with German Soldiers in their barracks and see how they live and train,” Gormley said. “We get to see that they (the German Soldiers) don’t really do things much differently than we do.”

The Soldiers said they enjoyed the overall event and hope it isn’t the last one.

“I thought the event was a lot of fun,” Pierce said. “Later on down the road there will be very few Soldiers who will get to have this experience. I think anyone who gets this opportunity should definitely participate.”

(Editor’s note: Spc. Joe Alger serves with the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)

They are two separate awards.The schutzenchnur,for marksmanship,the German military efficiency badge for overall performance.I have both and know how hard it is to get.You really have to want it.As for that machine gun,I was talking to my wife the other day about that.I told her how we only got to handle it for about 40 rounds for orientation in the morning,and we came back that afternoon for qualifying with 40 rounds.I had never fired anything that fast in my life!When we fired off our orientation rounds,they were GONE!All the rest of the day,I kept thinking to myself,how am i gonna do that.It came to me right before qualifying.Aim at the base of the target,when you squeeze the trigger,pull immediately to the right.Worked for me.You have to have the shooting medal to be eligable for the Efficiency Badge.Out of 500 men,only 20 men earned both.Mine are in Bronze as was 18 other men.The only one to get silver was a first Lt.You have to be superman to get a gold.Ref.A.THE CONSTITUTION,ARTICLE 1,SECTION 9-B.,PUBLIC LAW 89-673-.,CHAPTER 7,ARMY REGULATIONS,672-5-1.I wish them all the luck.I hope they keep track of their medals,as they are very hard to come by,should they win of course.Lost mine in a fire,but still have papers.

Thanks for the info.,but I'm in West Texas!Its kind of ironic my second language is German,and everyone around here speaks Spanish.If I recall,the years are ingrained in the awards.Mine would be 1975.I don't see how you could get a duplicate unless they were to make one special.They are kind of large.The shooting medal has the rope,while the efficiency badge is almost the same sans rope.

Makes you wonder,why don't we have them?I think one reason is,you would have to carry A LOT of ammo!You look young.I was a 10th.grade dropout when I enlisted in the inf.in72.At the time I was 17.I made buck sgt.by 18.Things were happening fast back then.Seeing you in uniform makes me proud to be an American,and guilty at the same time,for not being able to help more.But I can assure you,I would if I could.Carry on.

Well, I think probably the reason we don't have them is because the MG-49 uses the NATO 7.62 rounds, and we had developed the M-60 as it's more controllable counterpart. Now we have the M240B, which is lighter than the 60, has close the same rate of fire as the German weapon, but handles like the SAW, with just a bit more kick. I love the 240.

Oh, yeah, 26 yrs old, losing my hair fast. Promotable to SSG for better than a year, but in an overstregth MOS, and with the Army promotion points system, I'm screwed til I reclass, which is in 3 months.

xarmydog, I´m 2nd Lt of the German Luftwaffe Reserve, and I may help you. I earned the Schützenschnur in bronze when I was a Warrant Officer, and since I became Lt, I´m no longer allowed to wear it on my uniform (officers don´t need awards to show that they´re great in shooting ;-).

I also got the "Leistungsabzeichen" in gold, I think you called it efficiency badge.

So, tell me what you need, and I´m trying to get it for you.

I can not tell you how much I appreciate your efforts to help me.After mine were lost in a fire,I tried to get them replaced ,so much hassle.I gave up.To some,they mean nothing,to me it means quite a lot.I,during my career,tried to get any and every award possible.I have quite a few,but the ones I am most proud of,are the German ones.To me they were the hardest to get.It was an award all of us tried hard to get.I would have had the sports badge also,except for the swimming.I was just wore out and I knew,without a doubt,I would have drowned.My orders are dated 17nov.76,but I believe,if my memory serves me right,we took the test in 75.Paperwork time I think.If you could post a private reply,and tell me how much money,I could fax you a copy of my orders.I have only one faded copy that reads;German Army Military Efficiency Badge in Bronze.I lost the cards issued years ago from the German Army.I spent 3 years in Schweinfurt with CO.C,1st btn.,30th Inf.Unfortunately,my career was cut short due to a training exercise when a grenade simulator went off between my legs,which to this very day still haunts me.I have to be at the doctors tommorrow for more treatment at a V.A. hospital]4 hr. drive one way].Its kind of funny that its also my birthday!My sister is the VA rep.for the county so she will take me.I have never taken a dime from the Govt,except for my healthcare.I figure thats the least they can do.Thanks to Sand Rat for sending you my way.If,in ANY way I can,you all need my help,please feel free to contact me.Regards,xarmydog.

Hi, it´s alright.

You´ll get from me a Leistungabzeichen bronze and a Schützenschnur bronze. I don´t take money from you. It´s a way I can prove that for me, the friendship between Germany and the United States and considering GI´s our comrades is no empty bubble.

Now, once I have both awards, I´ll contact you again to give me an address where I shall send them to.

As I said, I´ve an Schützenschnur bronze I may not wear, but I won´t give it away, you´ll get another. Just, I can´t see any number on it. It may have been a special gesture that yours were presented with the year of achievement, but it´s not an official procedure (at least not since 2000).

Oh, and I don´t need a copy of your certificates. It´s because I trust you, and because you aren´t allowed to wear it without the certificate anyway.

I hope you have a good birthday, and that you get rid of these pains because of the accident.

Regards,

Michael

I can not think of a more kind and generous offer!Your words spoke volumes about the relationship between countries.I hardly ever talk about them,but when people started to speak out against your country,I had no choice to speak out.A lot of soldiers did not like the deployment there,but I enjoyed it very much.I have been to many places,And can honestly say,it is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been.I took the time to learn to speak the language which payed off.Not a day goes by that I don't think of your country.I keep telling my wife that someday we will go there to visit.You cant explain the food,the culture,the Castles.You have to be there.I don't think I will be there again in my lifetime,unfortunately.But I still have my scrapbooks and memories.Again,if there is any thing I can do for you,please feel free to contact me.I would be deeply indebted to you.P.S.,I have never met anyone there who had a Gold during my entire time in country.A couple silver,but I have never even seen one in person.

Hi,

I´m not sure if the leadership has changed the rules, but nowadays you see almost nobody of the ranks Sgt and higher without a gold Leistungsabzeichen. I had to do a 30 km march with 10 kg ballast, within 300 minutes. Then we had to achieve the German Sports Badge, a CPR /First Aid training within the last 3 years, and fulfilling the requirements for the Schützenschnur in gold not in two but just in one weapon. I made it with a pistol. When you had a good conduct record, there was no obstacle to get the badge.

By the way, I´m going to send you the two items within the next days. Can you tell me the address where I shall send it to?

Oh, and don´t bother, the best you can do in return is promoting the positive feelings you have about my country, that´s all I wish for.

Sincerely,

Michael

Again,I can not tell you how grateful I am.Words fail me.I am sending you my address,and hope you will send me yours.I have racked my brains as to what to send you.I just cant accept something for nothing.what I will be sending is a bicycle.A bicycle I had been in the process of restoring when 911 hit.It is red white and blue,and an old one.I have had many good times riding it and it has never failed me.She is sweet.It will come in avery large package,and will need some assembly.Refer to private reply.again thank you.xarmydog

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