CAMP NOVO SELO, KOSOVO – Multinational soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission participated in the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge event, also known as GAFPB, December 13-15.
The GAFPB is a decoration of the German Bundeswehr that signifies soldiers’ ability to perform in multiple disciplines, including pistol qualification, swimming, basic fitness, and ruck marching. German soldiers of all ranks must perform the GAFPB under evaluation at least once a year. Foreign militaries rarely get the chance to compete for this badge, making this opportunity unique to the United States, Finnish, and Latvian soldiers who competed while deployed to Kosovo to support the 34th rotation of KFOR Regional Command - East.
The GAFPB badge is awarded in three colors – bronze, silver, and gold – each representing a different level of performance achieved by the soldiers who successfully passed the requirements.
The German contingent of KFOR 34 hosted this event for its international KFOR 34 Allies and partners to promote military excellence beyond their ranks and strengthen the mutual respect that the soldiers within KFOR have for each other.
This particular event presented three days of challenges for the attending multinational service members from the participating nations.
“We’re competing with the best of other nations,” said Finnish Army Lt. Matias Hyytiainen, Finnish Engineer Platoon Executive Officer. “The Americans, the Germans, the Latvians cheering for one another is an amazing metaphor for what NATO is doing. As countries, we are pushing each other forward.”
On December 13-14, the participants underwent familiarization training on the standard German pistol, the HK P8. Subject matter experts on the weapon system led the training to ensure the participants thoroughly understood the P8’s mechanics and proper usage. A qualification course followed this to evaluate their performance. All soldiers who qualified with bronze, silver, or gold standards were cleared to move on to the following events.
On December 15, the participants completed the fitness portion of the GAFPB. The first fitness event was the swim test.
The swim test was a 100-meter swim in their combat uniform with the physical fitness uniform under it. Upon completion of the 100-meter swim, they were required to take off their combat uniform and remove it from the water without touching the sides of the pool for assistance, then demonstrate their ability to tread water in their physical fitness uniform.
Those who passed the swim test moved on to the basic fitness test, consisting of multiple sprinting events and a flexed arm hang.
If the soldiers passed the grueling swim and fitness test, only one thing stood between them, earning the coveted GAFPB: a timed 8-mile road march, carrying a 33-pound rucksack in their combat uniform.
“The swim, basic fitness test, and ruck all on the same day made obtaining gold on all events rather challenging,” said Oregon Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Daniel Ash, Regional Command East Maneuver Battalion Operations Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. “I am thankful that our Soldiers were allowed to participate in what is, for most of them, the only chance for a foreign award they will ever have.”
Among the 84 soldiers that participated in the GAFPB, 63 earned either a gold, silver, or bronze badge that they can wear on their uniform with pride. Although some participants walked away without a badge, they walked away with experience and training they can take throughout their military careers.
“While being an event focused mainly on physical fitness, the GAFPB is also about getting to know each other within the Task Force, facing a challenge side by side with soldiers from different nations within KFOR and pushing each other to achieve greater results than you could do just do on your own.” said German Army 1st Lt. Jakob Burger, Regional Command-East Maneuver Battalion Battle Captain. “The participating soldiers will take away some sore muscles and a badge to show for, as well as hopefully the feeling that they’re all pulling the same rope, no matter their nationality or task within KFOR.”