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JB MDL members take on grueling German military proficiency competition

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  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Thirteen servicemembers earned the privilege to wear a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge on their uniform, after completing a grueling four-day competition that tested their strength, endurance and mental aptitude Aug. 21.

The GAFPB badge is a decoration of the German armed forces, also known as the Bundeswehr, and is one of a few approved foreign awards that can be worn on U.S. military uniforms. It’s considered one of the most sought after awards and can be earned by members of any military service and of any rank.
Staff Sgt. Jacob Moore, U.S. Army Baltimore Recruiting Company, is one of two proctors who travels to military installations, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Grommes, German Armed Forces Command United States, to put together GAFPB competitions. He said the badge is looked upon with respect and honor.

“You’re getting something that’s prestigious, not only for our country, but for other countries as well,” Grommes said. “When a German soldier sees you have a badge on your uniform, he knows you worked for it. It wasn’t just handed to you. The standards are very high, and if you don’t make the standards, you don’t get the badge. There’s no giving out points.”

The competition consists of two sections, a basic fitness test and a military training section. During the fitness test, participants perform timed sprints, a flexed-arm hang and a 1,000-meter run. The military training section consists of a 100-meter swim in uniform, where participants have to undress into their swim trunks while still in the pool; a first-aid test, a Nuclear, Chemical, Biological MOPP test; pistol qualifications; and a road march donning a 35-pound rucksack. Participants who complete the competition are awarded a bronze, silver or gold badge based on their scores.

Army Spc. Nambaraney Dy, 147th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, achieved a gold badge and said he came into the competition expecting nothing less.

“My mindset was to hit the maximum goal. I didn’t find out what the minimum requirements were,” he said. “Anything I do in life, I try to strive for the max. That way if I don’t reach the highest level, I can still be happy with what I achieved, knowing I was giving it my all.”

Dy said the badge was a huge accomplishment in his life and he is thankful of the Soldiers and civilians that he is involved with who motivated him to achieve it.

Army Capt. David Moore, 1st Battalion, 391st Regiment, said that earning the right to wear the badge on his uniform gives him a sense of pride and accomplishment.

“It’s a great motivator,” he said. “It’s not easy to get. It can be very stressful to the body, and not everybody wins the award. It’s something to be proud of when you put it on your uniform.”

Grommes said the competitions are about testing strength and endurance, but it is also about the people from different communities and countries coming together to recognize the strength and comradery that they share.

“For me, it’s about the relationships,” he said. “It’s about coming in contact and meeting the Soldiers as we put on these events.”