German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship


The German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The decoration is awarded to German military personnel of all grades but is only allowed to be worn by enlisted members. The German armed forces regulations point out that "the Schützenschnur is a decoration for weapons proficiency for enlisted soldiers." Officers can receive the award, although it is not currently authorized to be worn on their uniforms. Foreign military members also may be awarded the badge. The German military regulation on officers still applies, permitting only enlisted members to wear the badge.

History

The history of the Schützenschnur dates back to the Eighty Years' War where Spanish troops were ordered to hang any Dutch person who carried a musket. Therefore Spanish musketeers began to carry ropes which were often carried over one shoulder.
Awarding a cord as a decoration began in the early 18th century in Prussia under Frederick William I of Prussia.
With the reorganization of the Prussian Army under Gerhard von Scharnhorst the Schützenschnur became an official military award.
The Reichswehr and later the Wehrmacht adapted the Schützenschnur as an award for proficiency in marksmanship. The award existed in 12 different levels with different versions for infantry and armored troops.
In 1957 the Bundesgrenzschutz introduced the Schützenschnur.
A similar decoration existed within the East German National People's Army and the Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic.

Requirements for qualification

To earn the award one must successfully shoot weapons from all three classes:
  1. Pistol
  2. Rifle
  3. Heavy weapon or antitank launcher
The awarded grade is determined by the lowest weapon qualification.

Wear by allied military forces

Correct wear on the US Army uniform

In the United States military, the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency is one of the few pre-approved foreign awards, requiring no individual approval request to be forwarded up the serviceman's chain of command to the United States Senate for acceptance. Occasion and manner of wear of the Schützenschnur are governed by the individual services' uniform regulations ; such regulations additionally specify the placement of the concealed button on the uniform with which to affix the Schützenschnur's rope. Section 22-18 part b of the DA PAM 670-1 states the following.

Correct wear on the US Air Force uniform

In the United States Air Force, approval needs to be obtained prior to wear on the uniform. AFI 36-2803, paragraph 7.3.2 states: Manner of wear, when approved, is the same for USAF members as it is for US Army members, as outlined above.
AFI 36-2903, dated 28 May 2015, paragraphs 11.2.2.3 through 11.2.2.6 state: Paragraph 11.2.2.3. refers to paragraph 10.5.1.6 for wear location guidance, which was deleted during the last revision. The previous version included language to effect that foreign badges could only be worn in the theater earned, but was not included in the most recent version. Further amplification is provided on the individual approval documentation provided by the Air Force Personnel Center, when approved.

Classes/grades

The number of exercises depends on the chosen weapon and the grade of the badge. A member of the medical branch, for example, can reach the bronze badge by two exercises with the pistol. A paratrooper needs for the gold badge one exercise with the G36 rifle AND two with the MG3 machine gun.
The German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency in Gold is awarded with the number 5, 10, 15 etc. for annually retaking.

Design