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Pastimes : Where the GIT's are going -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Smithee who wrote (122982)	10/24/2006 4:31:23 PM
From: Honor First	Respond to of 225578

Speaking of weapons: here's a neat post from WP. If you read the post click on the link. There at the bottom is the picture :) An Air Force officer sits at his desk at Campbell Barracks, HQ USAREUR in Heidelberg and fields a suggestion from a German officer. I was running every day, sometimes with him, and he wanted me to compete for the Bundeswehr military sports achievement award. The program consisted of joining the soldiers of German Territorial Southern Command every week for an afternoon of practice and competition. The track and field events were 5K run, 400m and 100m run, shot put, and long jump. There was also a multi-mile march under arms with pack (less than 65 lb). I was only mildly interested until he mentioned the shooting phase, qualifying on their P-9 pistol, rifle, machine gun, and the Uzzi. That hooked me, and when he further mentioned that while many people in USAREUR field units had qualified for gold in this Bundeswehr program, no one at HQ USAREUR had ever done it, I couldn't wait to sign up. Those who have served with the Germans won't be surprised at their literal, structured approach to everything, including this program. Even though I qualified for gold the first time through the events, I got the bronze. Then did it again for silver (awarded no earlier than 6 months from the bronze). Then once more and another 6 months before I got gold. My age would have let me march a shorter route, but I did the 30K as a blue suit marker. The competition and camaraderie were enjoyable and the shooting was a blast, so I didn't mind the repetitions. The joker came when I showed up to start on the silver. The word had got out that an Air Force type, of all things, would be the first ever at HQ USAREUR to win gold. A couple of dead serious U.S. Army studs from the USAREUR staff showed up to correct that situation. Too late. They were fully aware of the the jump I had on the time requirements, and that I had already qualified for gold, but they hung on in case I broke a leg or got greased with an Uzzi on the firing range. It didn't happen, of course, and when General Wilhelm of TerrKommandoSud pinned the gold on me I smiled broadly and entertained a fleeting thought about beating grunts at their own game. What I said was, "I love this s**t CHECK IT OUT: west-point.org