A German Army NCO School candidate checks out the machine gun mounted atop an M1064A3 light armored vehicle during an exchange with U.S. soldiers in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Feb. 22, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Dozens of German army noncommissioned officers toured Tower Barracks this week to learn more English from their American counterparts, and familiarize themselves with U.S. Army tanks and fighting vehicles.
The weeklong exchange, one of four per year, is part of a 10-week German army NCO School at Delitzsch, located approximately 15 miles north of Leipzig, said German army Capt. Marc Meissner, an operations officer at the school.
The school’s top 40 enlisted leaders, mostly sergeants and staff sergeants, on Thursday visited the base’s 100-year-old landmark water tower before being hosted by U.S. soldiers from 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment.
“It’s definitely a very worthwhile event,” said battalion commander Lt. Col. Kyle Trottier. “It helps us understand the levels of training that each army goes through, what their professional development systems look like, so we’re able to train and fight together at a higher proficiency level.”
Candidates from the German Army NCO School listen to a discussion about U.S. military equipment during an exchange with soldiers from 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Feb. 22, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
German army Sgt. Bjoern Kaiser looks at ammunition from a Bradley Fighting Vehicle during an exchange with U.S. soldiers in Grafenwoehr, Germany on Feb. 22, 2024. There are four exchanges per year between German and American soldiers. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Sanchez, a tank commander with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, discusses an M1A2 Abrams tank with German Army NCO School candidates Feb. 22, 2024, during an exchange at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers from the German Army NCO School climb aboard an M1A2 Abrams tank Feb. 22, 2024, to learn more about U.S. military equipment from 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment troops during an exchange in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
Grafenwoehr is home to the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy, the oldest in the service. The two schools have been hosting exchanges annually for 31 years, said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Alexandra Perez, a NATO liaison assigned to the German school.
The weeklong event occurred just days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to increase defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product, the NATO target, amid fears of Russian aggression following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Germany on Feb. 16 signed a long-term security agreement with Ukraine that included an additional $1.2 billion in military aid.
A light rain fell Thursday, as German soldiers of all ages boarded a bus for a tour of Tower Barracks and the surrounding camps. After hiking to the top of the 137-foot tower, they headed to the Camp Normandy motor pool, where a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M1A2 Abrams tank and other Army equipment awaited.
The Germans mingled with soldiers from the 37th Armored Regiment, and climbed inside and atop their vehicles.
“The German army doesn’t have this,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mattias Haedrech, an armored engineer, as he gazed upon an M1150 Assault Breach Vehicle. “We need this.”
The exchange was performed in English so the NCO candidates could improve their proficiency.
Sgt. David Jirouschek, an infantryman, marveled at the lack of space inside the Bradley compared with roomier German armored personnel carriers. Meanwhile, Staff Sgt. Benedict Shabanaj said he was awed at how quiet the Abrams is in comparison to the German Leopard 2 tank.
This event “strengthens cooperation,” said Shabanaj, a cybersecurity technician. “You get a big insight on how the U.S. military works and what the mentality is like. I will share the experiences made here.”
The exchange was equally gratifying for the members of 1st Battalion.
“This helps build our relationships between us and the Germans, bringing us closer together, understanding each other’s capabilities and being able to help each other and learn each other’s system,” said Staff Sgt. Johnathan Carter, a platoon track commander, as he showed off the inside of the Bradley. “They have their own variant of this vehicle, and they like their variant of this vehicle; we like (ours).”
Carter said working with the German army would be much more comfortable going forward.
