JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST

Search Joint Base McGuire­Dix­Lakehurst

Home News About Us Mission Partners Helping Agencies Contact Us

PRINT

PRINT

0

Photos 2 of 2

0

JB MDL members take on grueling German military proficiency competitionBy | Joint Base McGuire­Dix­Lakehurst Public Affairs | August 25, 2016

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE­DIX­LAKEHURST, N.J. ­­ Thirteen servicemembers earned the privilege to wear aGerman Armed Forces Proficiency Badge on their uniform, after completing a grueling four­day competition thattested 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 afew approved foreign awards that can be worn on U.S. military uniforms. It’s considered one of the most soughtafter 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 militaryinstallations, 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,” Grommessaid. “When a German soldier sees you have a badge on your uniform, he knows you worked for it. It wasn’t justhanded 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 fitnesstest, participants perform timed sprints, a flexed­arm hang and a 1,000­meter run. The military training sectionconsists of a 100­meter swim in uniform, where participants have to undress into their swim trunks while still inthe pool; a first­aid test, a Nuclear, Chemical, Biological MOPP test; pistol qualifications; and a road marchdonning a 35­pound rucksack. Participants who complete the competition are awarded a bronze, silver or goldbadge based on their scores.

Army Spc. Nambaraney Dy, 147th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, achieved a gold badge and said hecame 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 reachthe 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 youruniform.”

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 recognizethe 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.”

Spc. Nambaraney Dy, 147th Medical DetachmentVeterinary Services, competes in the road march portionof the GAFPB competition, Aug 21. (U.S. Air Force photoby Christian DeLuca/released) (Photo by ChristianDeLuca)

Photo Details | Download | 0

Joint Base McGuire­Dix­Lakehurst

EEO FOIA Disclaimer Accessibility/Section 508

IG USA.gov Site Map Suicide Prevention

STAYING CONNECTED

SAPR Questions Contact Us No Fear Act

Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr Pinterest Google+ Instagram RSS