PHOENIX - The Arizona Air National Guard hosted German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge testing March 24-28, with 32 Airmen and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps attempting to earn the coveted gold, silver or bronze badge.

The GAFPB is a decoration of the Bundeswehr, the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is one of few foreign military badges authorized to be worn by U.S. Air Force, Army and Space Force service members.

To earn the privilege of wearing the gold, silver or bronze GAFPB on their service dress uniforms, service members competed in six events: a pistol qualification, a pull-up bar hang, an 11-by-10-meter sprint (starting each repetition in the prone position), a 1,000-meter run, a 100-meter swim (in full uniform), and a 12-kilometer (33-pound) rucksack road march. All events had minimum qualifications, and all participants had to earn at least a bronze to move to the next event. The events were monitored by three German service members from the German Air Force Training Squadron, Goodyear, Arizona.

Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Morga, 161st Medical Group, first sergeant, said the chance to interact with the German airmen was exceptional.

“Any time a U.S. service member has the opportunity to do something in a joint environment they should hop on it,” said Morga. “We fight right alongside the German military, so to be able to do their fitness test, to me, is an honor.”

Arizona State University Air Force Cadet Hope Jacobson said participating alongside Air National Guardsmen provided her insight into the strong and supportive community within the Copperhead family.

“It has been a good experience to see that everyone had unconditional support for their wingmen throughout the testing process,” said Jacobson.

Morga said it was a chance to push himself physically and encourage others.

“When you struggle through something physically, with other people, the reward is far more gratifying than if you were just doing it by yourself,” said Morga. “It also builds comradery for the 161st as a whole. When we put our service uniform on and others see that badge, we can give each other a slight head nod in acknowledgement, knowing we did something that was hard, and we did it together.”

Jacobson, agreed: “Being able to earn a badge that we’ll be able to wear throughout our military career is a reminder not only of the work put in to earn it, but also the gratitude we have to be able to have these opportunities.”

She said she was motivated to participate to challenge herself and grow with her wingmen. 

Morga said the event made him and the other participants stronger.

“To me it’s all brand new, so the excitement is doing something that is hard, but also a test to see if my everyday [physical training] is something that has prepared me,” said Morga.