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Many Americans serving in Germany know the Edelweiss as a nice
lodge and resort nestled between majestic mountains, bright, blue
skies, vibrantly green trees and fluffy white clouds in Southern
Bavaria. But for some brave challengers, Edelweiss can be a lot less
comfortable – even a bit of a cliffhanger.
Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's 18th
Military Police Brigade participated in exercise Alpendistel 2016,
specialized German mountain warfare training in Mittenwald.
Iterations of the two-day exercise took place July 20-21 and July
27-28. The exercise is designed to challenge the physical and mental
toughness of the participants as well as prove their proficiency in
mountain operations.
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July 27, 2016 - A Bundeswehr soldier helps a comrade from the U.S. Army 18th
Military Police Brigade to the summit during a ropes training
exercise conducted as part of exercise Alpinedistel 2016. The
two-day German mountain warfare training exercise took place July
20-21 and July 27-28 here. It's designed to challenge the physical
and mental toughness of the soldiers ... as well as prove their
proficiency in mountain operations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt.
Frank Brown Jr., 18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs)
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A total of 39 participants, including eight Soldiers from
the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team completed the
training, with 36 earning the coveted German Mountain
Proficiency Badge – including the special Edelweiss badge
specially worn by German Mountain Soldiers.
Two fairly daunting obstacles stood between the Soldiers and the
badge: the Western Karwendelspitze and Sch�ttelkarspitze, two
mountains located in the Bavarian Alps, where the majestic mountains
were mean, the verdant trees were vicious and the fluffy white
clouds were just a reminder of how high the daring Soldiers had
actually climbed. Scaling more than 6,000 feet in elevation and
covering more than 20 miles in distance, the Soldiers and Bundeswehr
allies rucked across the rocky, unforgiving terrain. Carrying more
than 25 pounds of equipment and a weapon, they rappelled from a 40
meter rock cliff, climbed the face of the mountain, using ropes and
harnessing equipment for 200 meters, and went head-to-head with a
special guest challenger: the weather.
During the course of the second iteration of training, Mother
Nature decided the training wasn't difficult enough, so she sent a
few thunderstorms just to shake things up, turning the bright blue
skies to dark gray fire hydrants pulsing rain. Some of the tents
were flooded – all Soldiers were required to spend their nights
“under the stars” – and all of the participants were drenched,
adding an extra layer of adversity to the training.
Each team of participants was led by specially trained mountain
guides to ensure each task was accomplished correctly and safely.
Respondents responded enthusiastically to the challenge and shared
opportunity.
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July 28, 2016 - U.S. and German Soldiers learn how to treat hypothermia during
the medical rescue portion of Alpinedistel 2016. The two-day German
mountain warfare training exercise took place July 20-21 and July
27-28 here. It's designed to challenge the physical and mental
toughness of the participants as well as prove their proficiency in
mountain operations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Frank Brown Jr.,
18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs)
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“It is great – I'm absolutely grateful,” said Bundeswehr
Brig. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank, commander of the 23rd German
Mountain Brigade based in Mittenwald. Soldiers of the 23rd
are specially trained for operations in difficult, adverse
terrain. They're comprised of elements including
reconnaissance and engineers as well as a specialized mule
company.
Sollfrank said he hopes the U.S. Soldiers were able to learn and
enjoy the challenging training as well as the cohesion built with
German allies. He hopes more Soldiers as well as allied and partner
nations can participate in future iterations of the exercise. The
exercise, as well as other specialized small-unit training
opportunities, “help enhance individual Soldier skills and overall
interoperability with our German Bundeswehr brethren, as well as,
our other allies and partners nations” said Brig. Gen. Markus
Laubenthal, the U.S. Army Europe chief of staff, who helped
facilitate the opportunity for the American Soldiers.
German Mountain Proficiency Badge qualification comes in three
phases: “Bronze,” which the participants completed over the last few
weeks; “Silver,” which requires participants to complete a winter
portion of the training complete with skis and snug accommodations
in an igloo; and “Gold,” which requires Soldiers to complete the
summer portion twice as well as the winter course within a year's
time. These are daunting tasks; but Sollfrank said accomplishing
them yields its own reward. Each Soldier can take pride in
accomplishing a feat that only a few can say they've done.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Frank Brown
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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