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.

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.

Below: The G36 does have a special design.

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.