Soldiers Earn German Armed Forces Badge
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1499″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500403831108{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500403177351{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]By Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]Members of the Maryland Army National Guard participated in a two-day competition to earn the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency February 17 and 18, 2011, at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md.
Approximately 17 cadets from Salisbury University and the University of Delaware and 12 MDARNG Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, 1st Squadron, 158th Cavalry Regiment and 115th Military Police Battalion earned “Das Abzeichen für Leistungen im Truppendienst,” a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“It was great to see numerous servicemembers from units throughout Cadet Command and the Maryland Army National Guard come out for the competition,” said 1st Lt. David Engelman, executive officer for A Co., 1- 175th IN and Salisbury University ROTC instructor.
According to the Salisbury University ROTC department, which sponsored and helped administer the events, the decoration is awarded to all German Soldiers. Allied soldiers may also be awarded the badge. Any rank may be awarded and wear the badge.
“Going into the competition, I wasn’t too concerned that I wouldn’t be able to do everything,” said Sgt. David Bixler, B Troop, 1-158th CAV, explaining he felt confident his U.S. military training had prepared him well for the events.
In the United States military, the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency is one of the few approved foreign awards and is one of the most sought-after awards to achieve, as there are few opportunities to compete for it. Rolf Lichtenberg, a German senior non-commissioned officer from the German Army Liaison Office at Fort Lee, Va. was on hand to administer the event.
“This was a great opportunity that not many National Guard Soldiers get to take advantage of,” said 1st Lt. Gregg Zavadsky, executive officer for B Troop,[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]