DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour

 

 

DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

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Video by Courtesy
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Puerto Rico
1st Mission Support Command
July 23, 2023 | 0:38
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico- More than 50 service members, including soldiers from the 1st Mission Support Command, had the opportunity to complete the challenges required to attain the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, March 10-12.

The events happened at the Natatorium in San Juan and Camp Santiago Joint Training Center in Salinas.

During the weekend, these soldiers had to overcome the physical, mental, and technical challenges posed by the requirements for the GAFPB, a foreign badge awarded to and worn by German service members of all ranks. Allied Soldiers may also be awarded the badge.

The procedure to earn this award starts with the Basic Fitness Test, which consists of a sprint test, a chin-up test, and a one-kilometer run.

The second portion consists of military training, which starts with the swimming event and continues with the first aid kit, the nuclear, biological, and chemical test, a pistol qualification, and ends with a road march.

The swimming portion consisted of a 100 meters swim under the required 4 minutes, and directly after, without taking a break or holding on to the edge of the pool, getting undressed to shorts and a t-shirt in deep water without any support, throwing the outer uniform out of the pool.

At the end of all tests, scores were compiled, and badges were awarded in three categories according to the soldier's performance: gold, silver, and bronze.

Video by Sgt. Marcus Moyett
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