February 13, 2008

Purdue Army ROTC to compete for military proficiency badge

Twenty cadets and two Army ROTC staff members will compete in events that will take place at Indiana University and Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind. They will be trying to earn the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, which is awarded by the Army of the Federal Republic of Germany to soldiers who demonstrate high levels of physical fitness and military skills.

Indiana University's Army ROTC program, in cooperation with the German Army liaison to Fort Knox in Kentucky, organizes and runs the event every year for Army ROTC cadets throughout the Midwest.

Cadets and staff members will compete in events that include a first aid test, 200-meter swim, 400-meter sprint, shot put or stone throw, high jump or long jump, five-kilometer run, 9 mm pistol qualification, and a 30-kilometer road march, said Lt. Col. Dan Carpenter, head of the Army ROTC department and professor of military science and leadership.

Those who earn the badge will receive a certificate and military orders allowing them to wear the badge - which is gold, silver or bronze - on their dress uniform as a permanent award.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Dan Carpenter, (765) 494-2099, dwcarpen@purdue.edu

Timothy Schriver, Boiler Battalion commander, (765) 490-8142, tschrive@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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