Cadets from Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine ROTC programs compete in a series of challenging tasks—including the Basic Fitness Test, marksmanship, a 6-kilometer ruck, and a 100-meter swim—to earn a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Nov. 16–17, 2024.
Seventy cadets from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine ROTC programs competed in a series of challenging tasks as they attempted to earn a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Nov. 16–17, 2024.
Events included the Basic Fitness Test, marksmanship, a 6-kilometer ruck march, and a 100-meter swim in uniform. Of the initial participants, 57 advanced to the final phase, which is pistol qualification.
Ultimately, 43 earned the prestigious GAFPB, which was presented to them Dec. 9 in Memorial Hall. Cadets Nathan Franchebois ’25 and Emma Cameron ’25 received recognition as the top male and female competitors.
Capt. Pauline Johnson, assistant professor of military science, coordinated and planned the logistics for this event in partnership with Lt. Col. Patricia Hardin, faculty advisor of the program and the Office of Global Education associate director, and Cadet Reese Lassiter ’26, the GAFPB cadet in charge.
They expressed gratitude for all who offered “steadfast support” through the process, including Leutnant Steffen Große-Katthöfer, international student at The Citadel; Chief Warrant Officer Paul “Gunner” Lahah, VMI combat shooting coach; and Col. Bill Bither, VMI rifle coach.
Commenting on the importance of the badge, Hardin said, “It gives our cadets a chance to connect with foreign officers and noncommissioned officers. For the military science cadets, earning this badge is a significant achievement for their future careers in the Army. It is also among the few foreign insignia that Army personnel are allowed to wear on their uniforms.”
Johnson added, “The event concluded successfully, showcasing the grit, resilience, and international camaraderie of all participants.”
Editor's Note: Story originally published by Virginia Military Institute.
