A hint of warmth from the sun slipped through the early morning chill, and was welcomed by the two groups who stood huddled together in the crisp Fall air, Nov. 20. A group of American Marines performed warm-up exercises, sipped water, exchanged friendly banter and eyed their German soldier counterparts. A tense, restless mood—complete with jitters, pervaded. But the two groups were not about to battle each other. Instead, they were focused on the same goal - the U.S. Marine Corps’ Combat Fitness Test.
The test, which is still relatively new in its second year of implementation, is an annual requirement for Marines, and tests “burst strength during short durations of strenuous, high-output activity,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Gonzalez, Marine Corps Reserve program manager and training staff non-commissioned officer with U.S. Africa Command. The test includes a half-mile sprint, ammunition can lifts, and a taxing 400-meter, maneuver under fire course which involves dragging and carrying a fellow Marine through a quarter of the course.
The presence of German soldiers at such events is becoming more common, thanks to the work of a U.S. Navy petty officer, and his German soldier friend.
“I went to a friendship event in Stuttgart last May,” said Petty Officer First Class Christian Hergt, Intelligence and Knowledge Developmental Division administrator for U.S. Africa Command. “I struck up a conversation with these guys [German service members], and we decided to do some sort of exchange [program].”
Thanks to the efforts of Hergt, troops from U.S. Africa Command now regularly engage with German forces in informal events such as physical fitness tests, sporting events and marksmanship competitions.
So far, more than 10 exchanges have been conducted since May, said German Army Hauetfeldwebel Alex Ketterl, training non-commissioned officer with Military District Command IV’s Land Command Baden Württemberg. Hauetfeldwebel is a rank in the German Army equivalent to a company first sergeant.
“The reason we come out to such events is for the pleasure of working with our allies,” Ketterl said. “We like to see how the other guys are working, as it makes working together easier. This is a great point for German-American friendship.”
Both the German and American troops were challenged by the test.
“The toughest parts were the movement to contact [880 meter run] and the maneuver under fire [400 meter course],” said Sgt. Joseph Daigle, U.S. Marine Forces Europe watch non-commissioned officer. “I think overall [this test] is harder than the physical fitness test if you put out max effort.”
The German soldiers toughed out the challenging test with great results, although Ketterl expressed some trepidation about one aspect of the test.
“We are trained in things like first aid, carries, and running, but I think the ammo-can lift might be the kicker for us,” said Ketterl. “We don’t focus as much training on ammo-cans.”
However, the speed and agility of the German soldiers impressed the Marines, Daigle included.
“They did well,” Daigle said. “It was nice to have that competition – good, friendly international competition.”