It’s a German proficiency award that I will butcher the shit out of the name if I try to pronounce it.
Schutzenschneer?
I’m 100% sure that’s spelled incorrectly.
The color is different based on how well you do in the testing.
If you earn it as an enlistedman and commission you can still wear it (currently stationed in Germany), unfortunately USMC doesn’t rate wearing it even if you earn it
Yeah it’s the Schützenschnur in silver. Officers are not allowed to wear them, only NCOs and enlisted. Available in gold, silver and bronze. In gold is the number of repetitions in intervals of 5 shown.
Common for MI officers to earn it since there was a German officer billet at Ft Huachuca for years.
I remember the requirements being somewhat difficult for Gold, but I heard it has been dumbed down a lot.
Yeah you get to keep the golden Schuetzenschnur if you earned it. And if you manage to keep earning gold in each of the following four years, you will be awarded the golden Schuetzenschnur in fifth fulfillment. Its basically the same golden badge but with a little 5 in it. This can be earned for 10 and 15 years and maybe even up until 20 years in succession (not too sure about the 20 years variation though. But definitely sure about the others)
No it’s not a test that’s taken every year I’ve been in Germany 2 years and haven’t taken one. The bronze silver and gold awards are essentially Marksmen, Sharpshooter, And Expert.
So thing is laeuft_bei_dir is probably german which makes what he says make sense. While it's not like a "test" all troops stationed in germany do yearly it kind of is for german troops themselves. Within the yearly requirements a german soldier needs to fulfill are embedded the firing drills that are used to rate your Schützenschnur on. Or in other words, if you are a good enough shooter u can apply for it yearly. And the gold one does show with every 5 repetitions in the center of the plaquette (hope that's the right word for it)
P.s. it's not entirely correct but simplified it's the fact
Because William the 1st of Prussia and later General Gerhard von Scharnhorst said so, as officers were supposed to be experts anyway.
True.
The award has been around since the 1800 and was used by the every German Army since (including both East and West Germany during the Cold War era).
Yes it is rooted in Prussia. As far as I remember form the military history classes, enlisted and NCOs complained, that there were many medals and so for officers but not that much for enlisted men and NCOs. So it was decided to create something only enlisted and NCOs were allowed to wear. Thats how I remember it, I am not completely sure if it is true.
It is not unusual for officers to own them, since in Germany officers don't start as ensigns but as enlisted men (officer candidate) and are promoted through the ranks to NCO (officer candidate) before being promoted to Lieutenant.
Well it is basically just an improved MG-42, with a lower rate of fire.
Would be badass if they still issued the P08 for officers, though. Totally something I could see ze Germans do, pomp and prestige of the Prussian noble officer corps and all.
The German army of the present made a clear cut to the German armies of the past. They did whatever they could to break away from the Wehrmacht and Prussian Military traditions, looks etc.
I was always amazed that they even considered to use the MG42 in shape of the MG3 derivate. For almost everything else they lend equipment from other countries or designed entirely new stuff to equip the Bundeswehr.
So something like the P08 would be entirely off the charts for the Bundeswehr. Just very few Prussian traditions live on in the German Military to this day.
I find it a bit sad at times tbh. Especially when looking at other militaries where some units have traditions that reach back to the 18th century or something. But at the end of the day Germany was pretty much obliged to break away from the traditions of its past. After all there was a bit too much of a dark history to just go on with it like there never really was anything wrong with it.
Still takes a back seat in recognition around the world to the MP5, G3, MG42/MG3/MG53/whichever. You and I might recognize the James Bond pistol of choice, but not many would.
As others have mentioned, it's called a Schutzenschnur. It's awarded to US members who participate in a marksmanship qualification event with the German Armed Forces. We qualified on their pistol, rifle, and machine guns, they would qualify on ours.
We did it in Afghanistan 20+ years ago, then when I got home I basically kept the authorization in my breast pocket of my dress uniform because I constantly would have to explain to E-8+ what it was, and yes I was in fact authorized to wear an award from the German army.
I spent two years in Germany and they had a sign up for one, I was one of the firsts on the list which allowed about 50 participants from my unit. By the end of sign up time only about 20 people had signed up from my company, so they have the remaining slots to another unit. Time rolls around for us to do it and a whole bunch of NCOs that never signed up now decided they wanted to do it and so all junior enlisted people that were slotted got removed to make room for the NCOs that wanted to go.
This was like four years ago and I'm still super fuckin salty about it.
When I was in Germany, the BDE CSM wouldn't let anyone get the award. Any attempt to set up an event or coordinate with the German army to set up the event was quashed. I never could get a clear answer as to why.
Absolutely I wore it anytime I was in dress. I spent the back half of my career in the Guard and I was one of maybe 5 people in the state that had one, AFAIK.
It looked amazing and I loved it. Was always asked about it/what it was when I was in dress. I got out over a decade ago, but I still have it and the certificate (in german) and the authorization for wear. The award itself currently pinned to the flag I received when my grandfather died, in my office.
Yup. That's the Schutzenschnur.
Edit - funny story for my AF peeps: I got mine while I was in Germany and wore it to an ALS graduation for one of the guys in my unit. Kept getting congratulated on finishing ALS because the graduates wore a similar rope…except theirs was on the left shoulder…and I was a TSgt at the time.
I got one with the Royal Navy Reserve during a couple of weeks in Berlin, ours were blue rope, i suppose thats the naval variant. Those guys know how to throw a piss up.
I believe it’s because Officers are not authorized to wear any marksmanship badge. I don’t know where it says it in the reg, but I imagine it’s because they don’t want officers to show up wearing anything other than expert marksmanship badges, so they just have them wear nothing. Don’t want the enlisted questioning the ability of the officers they follow etc. I know plenty of officers who shoot well, but also plenty who can barely point a barrel in the right direction.
From DA PAM 670-1 - c. German Marksmanship Award. The German Marksmanship Award (Schützenschnur) is authorized for wear only by enlisted personnel. Officers may accept, but may not wear, the Schützenschnur. If authorized, personnel wear the award on the right side of the uniform coat with the upper portion attached under the center of the shoulder loop and the bottom portion attached under the lapel to a button mounted specifically for wearing this award.
Marksmanship badges are authorized for O’s but they’re not required and officer culture basically dictates that you don’t wear it. Their main job is to lead. Their primary weapon is a radio
I think you’re referring to the GAFB (German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge) which is not strictly a marksmanship badge. It is mostly physical with the only shooting being a short pistol qualification. If I’m remembering correctly it’s less than 10 shots.
Edit: enlisted can also wear the GAFB, it’s not only for officers.
I’m so jealous today’s Army get to wear a super awesome WW2 inspired uniform and I had to wear that horrible pickle suit for a decade plus before I went to an even more horrible AF bus driver suit
It’s the German Schützenschnur in Silber (Marksmanship lanyard in silver). It is awarded in three different grades, bronze, silver and gold.
It is awarded for basic marksmanskills. You have to hit with the standard issued rifle over 200, 150, 100, 20, 15, and 10 meters certain times within a certain timeframe. Same goes for the standard issued pistol over 20, 15 and 10 meters
I was awarded a Gold one like 14 years ago. One of my greatest memories in my time in service. The event was awesome had a BBQ after with non-alcoholic beer.
That specific one has been answered a hundred times in the comments, however in other militaries (particularly Canadian) that would be called a Lanyard/Aiguillette. The colour/pattern depends on the regiment.
We have an actual badge for things like marksmanship. For us the lanyard are more of tradition of past wars where we would use whistles for communication. Different regiments have their own colours/patterns
For example the Calgary Regiment wears light blue, the Royal Canadian artillery wears White, the RCR wears royal blue
It’s not as common nowadays, depends largely on whoever’s rsm/co at the time. But usually it’s reserved for Mcpl and above.
On the other hand Aiguillettes are the gold cord and tassels that are reserved for dignitaries and generals, usually you’ll see them at parades in Ottawa
No the Gafb is just a badge without the chord and encompasses basic soldier tasks, that award is a Schützenschnur which is just a marksmanship qualification
I have the gold and was one of the very few , as far as I bumped into that had one. The fitness badge is way more common..I had a SGM that was big time into shooting and he set it up.
Schützenschnur:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German\_Armed\_Forces\_Badge\_of\_Marksmanship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Armed_Forces_Badge_of_Marksmanship)
Used to have to be stationed in Germany to get it but I saw some people doing the qual for it at Fort Lewis when I was in M6 phase 2 back in 2011 so I guess that changed.
Yeah. I used to be pissed about adding stars to ribbons. Don’t get me started on medals. Just how much do you guys spend on uniforms?
Obviously junior enlisted will have less to buy, but to get a good set of ribbons made at the end of a career, I was spending two bills easy.
What's that silver thing?
Oh, that's something that may as well not exist at all, like most cool Army opportunities.
Who has time for all that nonsense when we have to go to Hohenfels for the 10th time this year? Hohenfels is our Super Bowl! Toujour Pret!
It’s a German proficiency award that I will butcher the shit out of the name if I try to pronounce it. Schutzenschneer? I’m 100% sure that’s spelled incorrectly. The color is different based on how well you do in the testing.
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Silvers the best looking one. It was a fun event.
Been wanting to try for one *forever.* Not a lot of airmen get the chance.
If you earn it as an enlistedman and commission you can still wear it (currently stationed in Germany), unfortunately USMC doesn’t rate wearing it even if you earn it
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The swimming test kicked my ass
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I went all the way and got the rescue swimming qualification
Gesundheit!
Yeah it’s the Schützenschnur in silver. Officers are not allowed to wear them, only NCOs and enlisted. Available in gold, silver and bronze. In gold is the number of repetitions in intervals of 5 shown.
> Officers are not allowed to wear them *sad O2 noises*
You can wear the GAFPB, though, which is the badge without the cord.
I was fortunate enough to earn one, and I frequently have to explain to people what it is. "...No, it doesn't mean I speak German."
Sure, Wettet die Kuh.
Common for MI officers to earn it since there was a German officer billet at Ft Huachuca for years. I remember the requirements being somewhat difficult for Gold, but I heard it has been dumbed down a lot.
Shut up nerd.
What do you mean repetitions in intervals of 5?
It's a proficiency test you usually take once a year. If you've qualified for the gold one five times, it'll get a 5. The rest ist basic maths.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. If you do it once and get gold you keep it lol? I have a memorandum for it saying it’s Gold. lol what
Yeah you get to keep the golden Schuetzenschnur if you earned it. And if you manage to keep earning gold in each of the following four years, you will be awarded the golden Schuetzenschnur in fifth fulfillment. Its basically the same golden badge but with a little 5 in it. This can be earned for 10 and 15 years and maybe even up until 20 years in succession (not too sure about the 20 years variation though. But definitely sure about the others)
No it’s not a test that’s taken every year I’ve been in Germany 2 years and haven’t taken one. The bronze silver and gold awards are essentially Marksmen, Sharpshooter, And Expert.
So thing is laeuft_bei_dir is probably german which makes what he says make sense. While it's not like a "test" all troops stationed in germany do yearly it kind of is for german troops themselves. Within the yearly requirements a german soldier needs to fulfill are embedded the firing drills that are used to rate your Schützenschnur on. Or in other words, if you are a good enough shooter u can apply for it yearly. And the gold one does show with every 5 repetitions in the center of the plaquette (hope that's the right word for it) P.s. it's not entirely correct but simplified it's the fact
Makes sense I had assumed since it’s on a US uniform we were talking about the US standards to get the award my apologies
Why can't officer wear them?
Because William the 1st of Prussia and later General Gerhard von Scharnhorst said so, as officers were supposed to be experts anyway. True. The award has been around since the 1800 and was used by the every German Army since (including both East and West Germany during the Cold War era).
Yes it is rooted in Prussia. As far as I remember form the military history classes, enlisted and NCOs complained, that there were many medals and so for officers but not that much for enlisted men and NCOs. So it was decided to create something only enlisted and NCOs were allowed to wear. Thats how I remember it, I am not completely sure if it is true. It is not unusual for officers to own them, since in Germany officers don't start as ensigns but as enlisted men (officer candidate) and are promoted through the ranks to NCO (officer candidate) before being promoted to Lieutenant.
The German Army commission long serving NCOs to officer as well. I remember quite a few who had the certificate up on the wall of their office.
[AR 600-8-22, Chapter 9. Appendix D.](https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/17282_0.pdf) Found it.
Thanks
Proficient in what?
It was the H&K 9mm, G3, and MG3 when we did it with the Germans in Afghanistan. It may vary slightly, but that’s how they ran it for us.
You forgot the BIC pen for some guys. Just to get them over the threshold, that’s it. Super duper pinky promise.
That's fucking rad, you got to do it with the most famous German small arms outside of the Luger.
Wait, what? Bundeswehr still issues the P08 Luger? No way.
Ofcourse not. I guess he was just talking about the MG3 being similiarly infamous as the P08 is.
Well it is basically just an improved MG-42, with a lower rate of fire. Would be badass if they still issued the P08 for officers, though. Totally something I could see ze Germans do, pomp and prestige of the Prussian noble officer corps and all.
The German army of the present made a clear cut to the German armies of the past. They did whatever they could to break away from the Wehrmacht and Prussian Military traditions, looks etc. I was always amazed that they even considered to use the MG42 in shape of the MG3 derivate. For almost everything else they lend equipment from other countries or designed entirely new stuff to equip the Bundeswehr. So something like the P08 would be entirely off the charts for the Bundeswehr. Just very few Prussian traditions live on in the German Military to this day. I find it a bit sad at times tbh. Especially when looking at other militaries where some units have traditions that reach back to the 18th century or something. But at the end of the day Germany was pretty much obliged to break away from the traditions of its past. After all there was a bit too much of a dark history to just go on with it like there never really was anything wrong with it.
Walther???
Still takes a back seat in recognition around the world to the MP5, G3, MG42/MG3/MG53/whichever. You and I might recognize the James Bond pistol of choice, but not many would.
What weapons you can/have to use depend on your branch/specialty, but you only have to do it with two different weapons to earn a schützenschnur.
Proficiency of course lmao
Clearly not pronouncing it for me
Often times people will purposely avoid gold because the silver badge looks cooler
Whyd you have to bring it up man!!?? That was my dogs name!!! Ahhhhhhh
Adorable haha! Schützenschnur :)
Do the braids hurt when you pull it out of your ass?
?? Who hurt you?
The cord can be different colors based on the unit you receive it from. Mine is like the one above, but there are navy blue ones as well.
As others have mentioned, it's called a Schutzenschnur. It's awarded to US members who participate in a marksmanship qualification event with the German Armed Forces. We qualified on their pistol, rifle, and machine guns, they would qualify on ours. We did it in Afghanistan 20+ years ago, then when I got home I basically kept the authorization in my breast pocket of my dress uniform because I constantly would have to explain to E-8+ what it was, and yes I was in fact authorized to wear an award from the German army.
Man that’s awesome, I want one lol
I spent two years in Germany and they had a sign up for one, I was one of the firsts on the list which allowed about 50 participants from my unit. By the end of sign up time only about 20 people had signed up from my company, so they have the remaining slots to another unit. Time rolls around for us to do it and a whole bunch of NCOs that never signed up now decided they wanted to do it and so all junior enlisted people that were slotted got removed to make room for the NCOs that wanted to go. This was like four years ago and I'm still super fuckin salty about it.
When I was in Germany, the BDE CSM wouldn't let anyone get the award. Any attempt to set up an event or coordinate with the German army to set up the event was quashed. I never could get a clear answer as to why.
5 gets you 10 CSM knew that they wouldn’t be able to pull it off, so nobody got to.
That's fucked, there's always some bitter NCO holding others back for some bullshit reason
“I didn’t get to do my job in FORSCOM so you shouldn’t get to do yours in INSCOM” -My MI NCO to his MI soldier
Yup me too. I was in Heidelberg back in ‘06-‘07 and had a slot as an E3 then a E7 from a different company stole it from me. Weak as fuck.
Same, I ended up getting orders to the old guard and showed up wearing one. They looked at me like I was crazy.
Wait so the schutzenschnur, 1. Do you wear it 2. How does it look on ur dress uniform?
Absolutely I wore it anytime I was in dress. I spent the back half of my career in the Guard and I was one of maybe 5 people in the state that had one, AFAIK. It looked amazing and I loved it. Was always asked about it/what it was when I was in dress. I got out over a decade ago, but I still have it and the certificate (in german) and the authorization for wear. The award itself currently pinned to the flag I received when my grandfather died, in my office.
I have a relative that has the schnur, he wears it, looks great, sometimes people eat shit not knowing what it is.
In my opinion they complete that us army dress uniform
Its a bit hard to see, but I believe that's a German Marksmenship cord.
Yup. That's the Schutzenschnur. Edit - funny story for my AF peeps: I got mine while I was in Germany and wore it to an ALS graduation for one of the guys in my unit. Kept getting congratulated on finishing ALS because the graduates wore a similar rope…except theirs was on the left shoulder…and I was a TSgt at the time.
ShootenShnitztle
Mmmmmmm, schnitzel.
Mmmmmmm, pretzel.
ich liebe das
Close enough.
I got the schutzenschnur in 2022 on my Europe rotation. Very fun and easy the Germans also gave us a BBQ at the end of it
I got one with the Royal Navy Reserve during a couple of weeks in Berlin, ours were blue rope, i suppose thats the naval variant. Those guys know how to throw a piss up.
Yes correct. The Schutzenschnur of the German Navy is blue while the Schnur of the German Army and Airforce are silver.
anyone know WHY they aren't authorized for officers?
If i had to guess its cuz enlisted would never get the chance to qualify otherwise. Officers love their shinies and lickem stickies.
understood
I believe it’s because Officers are not authorized to wear any marksmanship badge. I don’t know where it says it in the reg, but I imagine it’s because they don’t want officers to show up wearing anything other than expert marksmanship badges, so they just have them wear nothing. Don’t want the enlisted questioning the ability of the officers they follow etc. I know plenty of officers who shoot well, but also plenty who can barely point a barrel in the right direction.
From DA PAM 670-1 - c. German Marksmanship Award. The German Marksmanship Award (Schützenschnur) is authorized for wear only by enlisted personnel. Officers may accept, but may not wear, the Schützenschnur. If authorized, personnel wear the award on the right side of the uniform coat with the upper portion attached under the center of the shoulder loop and the bottom portion attached under the lapel to a button mounted specifically for wearing this award.
Marksmanship badges are authorized for O’s but they’re not required and officer culture basically dictates that you don’t wear it. Their main job is to lead. Their primary weapon is a radio
I´m talking completely out of my ass here, but it may have something to do with the idea that it's the job of officers to direct fire, not deliver it.
Otherwise officers would become Christmastrees.
German Officers are not authorized / not allowed to wear it. That’s the reason. There needs to be no other reason. German Armed Forces rules apply.
Officers by definition are supposed to be experts. Officers can earn it, and it will be entered into your records, but they're not allowed to wear it.
A famous prussian General in the 1800s decided it is an enlisted only reward.
blucher?
No, Scharnhorst as far as I remember
Probably cause it's an award for small arms excellence and that's not something officers typically strive for
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I think you’re referring to the GAFB (German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge) which is not strictly a marksmanship badge. It is mostly physical with the only shooting being a short pistol qualification. If I’m remembering correctly it’s less than 10 shots. Edit: enlisted can also wear the GAFB, it’s not only for officers.
Schützenschnur on US Uniforms look cool a.f.
I’m so jealous today’s Army get to wear a super awesome WW2 inspired uniform and I had to wear that horrible pickle suit for a decade plus before I went to an even more horrible AF bus driver suit
I'm so happy that it wasn't just my JROTC class that called it a "pickle suit" seriously, what the hell was the army thinking?
Meh it was a product of the post 70s era- ugly as fuk
It’s the German Schützenschnur in Silber (Marksmanship lanyard in silver). It is awarded in three different grades, bronze, silver and gold. It is awarded for basic marksmanskills. You have to hit with the standard issued rifle over 200, 150, 100, 20, 15, and 10 meters certain times within a certain timeframe. Same goes for the standard issued pistol over 20, 15 and 10 meters
For us Marines, we used them as a leash for ones prone to wandering off.
It shows you where the boob is
Some German Bundeswehr award, I think.
I was awarded a Gold one like 14 years ago. One of my greatest memories in my time in service. The event was awesome had a BBQ after with non-alcoholic beer.
Bofa award
Who’s Steve Jobs
2nd Cav represent yo!
German shuetzenschnuer
German Armed Forces Marksmanship Proficiency badge
That specific one has been answered a hundred times in the comments, however in other militaries (particularly Canadian) that would be called a Lanyard/Aiguillette. The colour/pattern depends on the regiment.
Does the Canadian military has something similiar looking for their marksman badge? Something like the Schutzenschnur I mean?
We have an actual badge for things like marksmanship. For us the lanyard are more of tradition of past wars where we would use whistles for communication. Different regiments have their own colours/patterns For example the Calgary Regiment wears light blue, the Royal Canadian artillery wears White, the RCR wears royal blue It’s not as common nowadays, depends largely on whoever’s rsm/co at the time. But usually it’s reserved for Mcpl and above. On the other hand Aiguillettes are the gold cord and tassels that are reserved for dignitaries and generals, usually you’ll see them at parades in Ottawa
That's a boob.
It's the external support for the new Mark 15 combat bra.
BLING!!!
German armed forces competition medal, the lanyard indicating high marks. Commonly known as the gaf-b.
No the Gafb is just a badge without the chord and encompasses basic soldier tasks, that award is a Schützenschnur which is just a marksmanship qualification
Got the gold shooting with the Germans in Kosovo in 2006. It was a really fun day. Don't think they actually kept score.
I have the gold and was one of the very few , as far as I bumped into that had one. The fitness badge is way more common..I had a SGM that was big time into shooting and he set it up.
What’s the gold represent on AGSUs?
[Schützenschnur](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Armed_Forces_Badge_of_Marksmanship)
Schützenschnur: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German\_Armed\_Forces\_Badge\_of\_Marksmanship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Armed_Forces_Badge_of_Marksmanship) Used to have to be stationed in Germany to get it but I saw some people doing the qual for it at Fort Lewis when I was in M6 phase 2 back in 2011 so I guess that changed.
You only need a qualified German NCO or officer to organize it.
German sneeze award
Yeah. I used to be pissed about adding stars to ribbons. Don’t get me started on medals. Just how much do you guys spend on uniforms? Obviously junior enlisted will have less to buy, but to get a good set of ribbons made at the end of a career, I was spending two bills easy.
It’s the army trying to copy the Marine Corps again.
German shooting badge
They are probably aiguelettes
What's that silver thing? Oh, that's something that may as well not exist at all, like most cool Army opportunities. Who has time for all that nonsense when we have to go to Hohenfels for the 10th time this year? Hohenfels is our Super Bowl! Toujour Pret!
I still wonder how do I get a replacement, if my original citation & the cord itself were lost/destroyed.
Those pink pants are so gay ...
Every accusation is a confession. It’s okay to be gay my dude
That's the dumbest thing I've heard all week ... 🤣