Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, and cadets from across New England participated in the German Armed Proficiency Badge Qualification test, September 5-7, 2024 at Hanscom Air Force Base.
The German Armed Proficiency Badge, or GAFPB, is awarded to German Soldiers who excel in their standard military tests. Participants can earn gold, silver, or bronze badges depending on how well they do in the events.
The event is conducted in partnership with officers and noncommissioned officers from the German armed forces, who ensure the test is completed to standard. While the events and badges are the same, the way U.S. Forces and German Forces conduct the tests are slightly different.
"We do these tests over a year, you all do it in a few days, so it is much more of a competition," said Colonel Jörg Dronia, commander of the German Armed Forces Command in the U.S. and Canada.
The competition helps foster esprit de corps among service members who only sometimes train or work together.
Competitors started the GAFPB with the 100-meter swim in the US OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) uniform. After the timed swim, participants had to remove their uniforms and throw them out of the pool without touching the ground.
After the swim, competitors took on the first-aid and use of nuclear, biological, and chemical personal protective equipment tests.
These tests included dressing wounds, CPR, applying tourniquets, and donning full chemical suits and masks.
The next day started with the German Basic Fitness test, which included a 10x100m shuttle sprint, a flexed arm hang, and a 1000m run.
After the fitness test, competitors headed to the range to qualify on the pistol.
"The qual was my least favorite event. It took me a few tries," said Rosado. "I'll come back and do this again next year to do better."
Rosado was able to complete the qualification, but how well she shot was one of the determining factors in what color badge she received. The swim, pistol, and fitness test determined what level of badge she got, while the next event, the ruck, everyone was going for gold.
All competitors did the gold level ruck, 12K (just over seven miles), in under two hours. The ruck event took place in Concord, Massachusetts, kicking off close to the Old North Bridge. The final event of the GAFPB would take the competitors down back trails and over footbridges past a marshy wetland.
"It was a nice challenge, a nice way to start off the morning," said Spc. Marcus Bettencourt, a Soldier with the 182nd Engineer Company Vertical, Massachusetts National Guard.
After the scores were tabulated, participants and staff headed to the Boylston Schul-Verein German Club in Walpole, Massachusetts, where the medal ceremony would kick off the club's annual Oktoberfest.
After the badges were handed out, participants and staff were able to relax, socialize, and enjoy the festivities.
The GAFPB is a support team that coordinates with the German armed forces, plans event locations, runs every event, and is the backbone of this annual event.
"We couldn't do this without our amazing proctors and support staff," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Amanda Teft, the Officer in Charge of the GAFPB. "There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of logistical planning and execution that goes on. When it goes smoothly, it's easy to forget the amazing people who planned and executed it."
Completing the challenge allows U.S. forces to wear the GAFPB badge on their dress uniform. It is one of the few foreign awards authorized for wear by U.S. Service members.
Story, Video, and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton
