POTD: Schuetzenschnur Badges with H&K P8 A1 and H&K G36

by Eric B

Published: July 21st, 2021

Schuetzenschnur

Photo Of The Day: Today we’re going to look at U.S. soldiers doing the German Armed Forces badge of marksmanship called Schuetzenschnur. This decoration can be awarded to German military personnel of all grades, but only enlisted members are allowed to wear the badge. Soldiers qualifying for the Schuetzenschnur have to fire both the H&K P8 A1 pistol and the H&K G36 rifle, and are eligible for bronze, silver, and gold awards based on their score in the two events.

The H&K P8 is more known as the USP or Universelle Selbstladepistole for “universal self-loading pistol”. Regardless of the handgun, as an instructor, it always hurts my soul when I see a suboptimal grip.

Below: U.S. Army Pfc. Ulysses Varela, assigned to 615th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K P8 A1 at the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 7, 2021.

U.S. Army Pfc. Ulysses Varela, assigned to 615th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K P8 A1 pistol during qualification for the Schuetzenschnur, the German Armed Forces badge of marksmanship, at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 7, 2021. Soldiers qualifying for the Schutzenschnur had to fire both the H&K P8 A1 pistol and H&K G36 rifle, and were eligible for bronze, silver, and gold awards based on their lowest score in the two events. (U.S. Army photo by Kevin Sterling Payne)

Below: U.S. Army Spc. Lucas Baldwin, assigned to 615th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K G36 rifle while a German Soldier keeps score during qualification for the Schuetzenschnur.

U.S. Army Spc. Lucas Baldwin, assigned to 615th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K G36 rifle while a German Soldier keeps score during qualification for the Schuetzenschnur, the German Armed Forces badge of marksmanship, at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 7, 2021. Soldiers qualifying for the Schutzenschnur had to fire both the H&K P8 A1 pistol and H&K G36 rifle, and were eligible for bronze, silver, and gold awards based on their lowest score in the two events. (U.S. Army photo by Kevin Sterling Payne)

Below: The G36 does have a special design.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Stephen Jackson, a Platoon Leader assigned to 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K G36 rifle while a German Soldier keeps score during qualification for the Schuetzenschnur, the German Armed Forces badge of marksmanship, at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 7, 2021. Soldiers qualifying for the Schutzenschnur had to fire both the H&K P8 A1 pistol and H&K G36 rifle, and were eligible for bronze, silver, and gold awards based on their lowest score in the two events. (U.S. army photo by Kevin Sterling Payne)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Doherty, EOD Team Leader assigned to the 702nd Ordnance Company, 18th Military Police Brigade, fires the H&K G36 rifle

Having seen these pictures, I’m quite interested in seeing how well I could perform in the German Schuetzenschnur.

All pictures from the U.S. Army, taken by Kevin Sterling Payne.

#Germany #G36 #HKP8 #Schuetzenschnur #MarksmanshipBadge

Eric B

Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.

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2 of 11 comments

Joe R. on Jul 22, 2021

For a second, I thought it was a Hi-Point carbine.

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Broz on Jul 24, 2021

I got the bronze schuzenschnur in 1973...still have it. I shot the MG3 and the G3 (our HK91) but was disappointed I didn't get to shoot the P1 (the West German version of the P38) - almost 50 years now

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POTD: Schuetzenschnur Badges with H&K P8 A1 and H&K G36

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