GAF, 1st AD collaborate for a GERMAN `SCHÜTZENSCHNUR`

UNIT NEWS
UNIT NEWS
FORT BLISS BUGLE • March 5, 2015 • 3A
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By Capt. Danielle Covington
4th BCT, 1st AD Public Affairs
GERMAN ‘SCHÜTZENSCHNUR’ T
Photos by Capt. Danielle Covington / 4th BCT, 1st AD Public Affairs
A 1st AD Soldier guided by a German air force service member fires five rounds at three silhouette targets.
A 1st AD Soldier practices his fundamentals towards the
targets prior to the range going hot.
Capt. Danielle Covington, public affair officer, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, stands ready at the first firing table of the HK G36 on day two of Schützenschnur.
A 1st AD Soldier stands ready to knock his target down
with the HK G36 during day two of the Schützenschnur
weapons proficiency. The farthest pop-up target was
200 meters.
First AD Soldiers attend primary marksmanship training prior to entering the range. Soldiers
are learning the basic fundamentals of the HK P8.
he range opened at zero 7 just as any
other typical range a unit would fall
in on. It began with unusually warm
weather that early in the morning, making
it out for a very good day at the range – no
doubt. Well, with this range it was no typical
range. The German air force hosted the kick
off of the German Schützenschnur of 2015.
Schützenschnur is marksmen proficiency
in German weaponry of Heckler and Koch
P8 and Heckler and Koch Gewhr 36 (G36),
which is equivalent to U.S. Army M9 and M4
service weapons. The Schützenschnur decoration is awarded to German military personnel
of all grades, but only allowed to be worn by
enlisted Soldiers.
“As an infantryman, it’s an excellent opportunity to hone my skills. I want to stay proficient in my craft and it’s a plus I get to train
on foreign weapons,” said Sgt. Grant Allender, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored
Division.
Lt. Col. Robert Wagner, deputy commander, 402nd Field Artillery, introduced his personnel and the German air force personnel the
Soldiers would be taking all commands from.
He briefed the rest of the week’s events.
“At the end of the competition, we’ll celebrate with an award ceremony and a brats
BBQ,” said Wagner.
There were plenty of excited Soldiers who
came from all across 1st AD to compete for
the German marksmanship badge. Moreover,
having the week end with an award and a tasty
meal was music to the competitors’ ears.
Master Sgt. Thomas Schade from the GAF
has been a part of numerous rotation of Schutzenschnur since 2011.
“We have 50 slots per rotation. This is held
twice a year. Today we have 89 Soldiers in attendance and they will all have a chance to
fire,” said Schade.
The first qualify range included paper
targets for the HK P8 handgun. Soldiers received two chances to qualify. They could
earn bronze, silver or gold. Soldiers had to
hit receive at least three out of five rounds on
each target, which at least earn them bronze.
More than 90 percent of the Soldiers received
gold during this qualification round – that is
five for five.
Next were the pop-up targets which for
some sounds easy. Soldiers drew a six-round
magazine and two targets popped up in the
kneeling, prone and standing positions. Soldiers soon found out where they did not do so
well. Many Soldiers had trouble in the prone
and kneeling position. They found it easy in
correcting themselves in the kneeling position over the prone position. For some, they
returned to the primary marksmanship training with the German air force for re-train. The
GAF marksmen have a few different techniques from that of U.S. Army marksmanship.
Taking gold was the goal of the competition, but it was not easy to attain. Although
some Soldiers received silver medals, they
returned the empty magazine and thanked the
German air force for the shooting experience.
Day two of Schützenschnur, the weather
took a cold turn at Fort Bliss. Friday’s temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit; Monday was
as low as 18 degrees, making conditions very
difficult. Qualifying for day two was similar
to day one.
Soldiers had 16 rounds and four shooting
tables. Soldiers shot standing, in the prone and
in the kneeling position. Bronze was 13 out of
16; Silver was 14 out of 16; Gold was 16 for
16. All the shooters muscled through the cold
weather and qualified.
The next German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competition will be held in October.
FORT BLISS BUGLE • March 5, 2015 • 9A
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