German Army Cpl. Christopher Brings familiarizes himself with an M4 in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Airmen from the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron hosted a training event at the Vogelweh firing range that gave U.S. and German forces a chance to train with each other's weapon systems. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
German Army Cpl. Christopher Brings familiarizes himself with an M4 in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Airmen from the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron hosted a training event at the Vogelweh firing range that gave U.S. and German forces a chance to train with each other's weapon systems. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Caleb Bruce, right, and Manuel Amaya look through the sights of German army firearms as Cpl. Christopher Brings talks about the weapons in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgts. Caleb Bruce, left, and Andrew Deleon-Guerrero show Spc. Kevin Kockeritz how to operate a Mk 19 grenade launcher in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpls. Benedikt Dewald, right, and Christopher Brings load MG3 ammunition belts in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Ammunition belts for an MG3 machine gun line a table at the Vogelweh firing range in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Airmen from the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron hosted a training event that gave German soldiers from the 26th Paratrooper Regiment a chance to go through the course of fire for the Air Force small arms marksmanship ribbon, and for the airmen to earn the German Weapons Proficiency Badge. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Tech Sgt. Kellie Sawn, second from right, gives safety instructions to German soldiers in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Klaus Schmidt, left, prepares an MP7 for Tech Sgt. Kellie Sawn in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgt. Manuel Amaya fires an MP7 at the Vogelweh firing range in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Frederik Rosen, left, fires an M9 as Staff Sgt. Shane Fairchild watches in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgt. Shane Fairchild prepares an MP5K operational briefcase for a German soldier in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Stephan Zipfel fires a Remington 870 combat shotgun at the Vogelweh firing range in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Sebastian Sulkowsky fires an M249 in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgt. Briana Stanley fires an M9 in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpls. Christopher Brings, left, and Klaus Schmidt share a laugh in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgt. Caleb Bruce, right, and Cpl. Klaus Schmidt have a friendly competition while shooting a target in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgts. Omar Harris, left, and Adam Mainwaring help Sgt. 1st Class Oliver Storsberg to the ground during a Taser demonstration in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgts. Omar Harris, left, and Adam Mainwaring help Cpl. Stefan Bilgen to the ground during a Taser demonstration in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
Cpl. Klaus Schmidt, left, and Tech Sgt. Kellie Sawn watch a German soldier testing the effects of a Tazer in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — U.S. Air Force Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructors from the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron hosted a training event at the Vogelweh firing range that gave the airmen and German soldiers from the 26th Paratrooper Regiment a chance to train with each other’s weapons.
After a morning classroom session on Thursday to familiarize themselves with the various firearms, the afternoon was spent sending lead downrange.
The Germans got to fire weapons from the U.S. arsenal such as the M9 pistol, M4 rifle, M249 light machine gun and M240 machine gun. There were also Remington 870 combat shotguns and an HP5K operational briefcase available. Both of those got favorable reactions, but there were more soldiers back in line for the heavier-hitting M249 and M240.
The airmen got to fire a range of German-issued firearms including the P8 pistol, G36 rifle, P7 machine pistol and MG3 machine gun. In addition to firing the weapons, the Americans were also given the chance to qualify for the Shutzenschnur, or German Weapons Proficiency Badge. Twelve of the Police Squadron members earned the award.
The day culminated in a short ceremony with certificates, mementos of appreciation and a Taser demonstration on three willing German paratroopers.
