SGM Christian Schneider presenting the badges. [Source]
I've been working on that over the past couple months, and with the one-year window to complete everything closing soon, it was time to make a decision -- either finish it or give up.
My first attempt to go back was in late September. I tried to make it out on via space available, but that didn't work out. Instead, I coordinated with the German sergeant major who conducted the tests to meet between November 12th and 14th. I bought a commercial ticket and let him know my plans by email on October 1st. Before I left, I sent him another email.
After I arrived, I called him on the 11th and left a message. The next day, I called six times but still did not receive a return call. That evening, I found out why.
Sergeant Major Christian Schneider was killed in a car accident on the morning of Thursday, October 13th, 2013. [Source] As I understand it, he left behind a wife and two boys, who have since returned to Germany.
Friday, December 06, 2013
Trip to Virginia, tragedy
This past week I travelled to Fort Lee to finish what I began back in December 2012: the tests for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge. The majority of the people who tested with me finished everything that same month (click on the picture below for the news article), but I still needed to learn how to swim 100m in less than 2 minutes.
SGM Christian Schneider presenting the badges. [Source]
I've been working on that over the past couple months, and with the one-year window to complete everything closing soon, it was time to make a decision -- either finish it or give up.
My first attempt to go back was in late September. I tried to make it out on via space available, but that didn't work out. Instead, I coordinated with the German sergeant major who conducted the tests to meet between November 12th and 14th. I bought a commercial ticket and let him know my plans by email on October 1st. Before I left, I sent him another email.
After I arrived, I called him on the 11th and left a message. The next day, I called six times but still did not receive a return call. That evening, I found out why.
Sergeant Major Christian Schneider was killed in a car accident on the morning of Thursday, October 13th, 2013. [Source] As I understand it, he left behind a wife and two boys, who have since returned to Germany.
SGM Christian Schneider presenting the badges. [Source]
I've been working on that over the past couple months, and with the one-year window to complete everything closing soon, it was time to make a decision -- either finish it or give up.
My first attempt to go back was in late September. I tried to make it out on via space available, but that didn't work out. Instead, I coordinated with the German sergeant major who conducted the tests to meet between November 12th and 14th. I bought a commercial ticket and let him know my plans by email on October 1st. Before I left, I sent him another email.
After I arrived, I called him on the 11th and left a message. The next day, I called six times but still did not receive a return call. That evening, I found out why.
Sergeant Major Christian Schneider was killed in a car accident on the morning of Thursday, October 13th, 2013. [Source] As I understand it, he left behind a wife and two boys, who have since returned to Germany.
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