Press Release
☷Regional Training Site Maintenance Host 7th GAFPB Test
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 06,2022
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A competitor executes a flex - arm hang during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test event at Fort Indiantown Gap , Pa . on May 1 , 2022 . The test , ran by the 94th Training Division , 80th Training Command ' s Regional Training Site - Maintenance here , lasted three days and included a pistol competition , a 12 - kilometer ruck march , and fitness and swimming events . A competitor completes the 100 - meter swim during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test event at Fort Indiantown Gap , Pa . on May 1 , 2022 . During the event ran by the 94th Training Division , 80th Training Command’s Regional Training Site - Maintenance here , competitors were required to remove their uniform while staying afloat after completing the 100 - meter swim in under 4 minutes . Service members display their marksmanship skills during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test event at Fort Indiantown Gap , Pa . on May 2 , 2022 . The test , ran by the 94th Training Division , 80th Training Command ' s Regional Training Site - Maintenance here , lasted three days and included a pistol competition , a 12 - kilometer ruck march , and fitness and swimming events . Brig . Gen . Louis Mitchell , left , the 94th Training Division ' s commanding general , congratulates one of his Soldiers for finishing the ruck march portion of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test event at Fort Indiantown Gap , Pa . on May 3 , 2022 . The test , ran by the 94th Training Division , 80th Training Command ' s Regional Training Site - Maintenance here , lasted three days and also included a fitness test , a pistol competition , and a swimming event . German Army Col . Karsten Kraemer , the German Army representative who officiated the event , congratulates a competitor for finishing the ruck march portion of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge test event at Fort Indiantown Gap , Pa . on May 3 , 2022 . The test , ran by the 94th TrainingDivision , 80th Training Command ' s Regional Training Site - Maintenance here , lasted three days and also included a fitness test , a pistol competition , and a swimming event . FORT INDIANTOWN GAP , Pa . – After two years of not being able to host the German Armed Forces Badge testing event due to the COVID - 19 pandemic , the Regional Training Site–Maintenance hosted their event seventh GAFBP test here April 30 to May 3 , 2022 . Thirty - five cadre members had three days to get nearly 130 participants comprised of all three Army components , the Air Force , and the Marines , through this challenging fitness test . The test included a flexed - arm hang , 1 , 000 - meter sprint , an 11x10 meter sprint , a 100 - meter swim followed by removing your uniform while staying afloat , a pistol marksmanship test , and a 12–kilometer ruck march with a minimum of 35 pounds in their ruck sacks . “It was an awesome , great competition , full of emotions , ” said German Army Col . Karsten Kraemer , the German Army representative who officiated the event . Col . Kraemer felt it is important for competitions like this to continue to foster the relationship between German and U . S . Soldiers , building upon friendships based on common memories . The 94th Training Division’s Staff Sgt . Brad Coffell , who is assigned to the RTSM , felt relief when he realized he earned a gold medal in the GAFPB competition . “I put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve the gold standard in every event . And when it was over , and I realized I had achieved my goal . I was able to get a mental release . ” To prepare for the competition , Coffell would run 6 - 10 miles at an eight minute per mile pace and do ruck marches carrying at least 45 pounds . He also took advantage of the hilly terrain on Fort Indiantown Gap during his preparations , because he knew whatever route he would have to compete on would include hills . Even with all his preparation , the 1 hour , 24 minutes , 30 seconds it took him to complete the ruck march was the hardest part of the competition for him . “Everything else though difficult , was over in a matter of minutes . But the ruck march took every bit of athleticism you had to complete , and you had to continue to use that strength for over an hour , ” said Coffell . Maj . Benjamin Vernon , the RTSM’s commandant , said his favorite part of the competition was seeing the competitors’ smiling faces while enjoying the event and giving it their all . Vernon added this GAFPB testing event would not have been the success it was without the professionalism , knowledge , and expertise of his cadre . “The NCO’s made it happened , ” said Vernon . “They proved they are the backbone of the Army . ” The fitness test’s noncommissioned officer - in - charge , Staff Sgt . Scott Cleaver , also assigned to the 94th TD’s RTSM , said team members , leadership coaching , and cadre motivation inspired competitors to safely push through this intense competition .
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