Neha Patil (Editor)

German commando course

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Country
  
Germany

Status
  
Currently awarded

Established
  
Early 1980s

Type
  
Patch

Description
  
Awarded in two levels

German commando course

Awarded for
  
Completion of commando course

The Bundeswehr Combat Survival course (German: Einzelkämpferlehrgang ) is a course conducted by the German Bundeswehr. The course was established in the early 1980s and it is aimed on testing the physical and mental endurance of participants, to teach special skills, tactics necessary to operate, and to survive under stressful conditions, and for the Jagdkampf advanced infantry minor tactic. Until recently the Einzelkämpferlehrgang was a requirement for becoming an officer in the Bundeswehr. However, it became optional for officers and for NCOs. The course is taught by the German paratrooper school in Altenstadt, Upper Bavaria. It is still a requirement for officers of combat troops, while it is replaced by a dedicated survival course (German: Überleben im Einsatz).

Contents

The unarmed close quarter combat part of the course has been modified into its own separate course in 2010. It now closely follows the Krav Maga curriculum.

The course is separated into two parts:

Basic course (Grundlehrgang) EKL1

  • SERE-skills
  • Small unit tactics

    • Advanced course (Leistungslehrgang) EKL2

  • Instructor certification for previously acquired skills
  • Leadership and advanced infantry minor tactics.
  • Guerrilla warfare fundamentals

    • Sample schedule for basic course

    Week 1

  • Arrival
  • 3000m track and obstacle course, classroom instruction, receiving firearms, briefing
  • Relocating to training area, speedy march (with the least resting possible), training in camouflage and firearms, transporting wounded soldiers
  • Classroom instruction, navigation exercise in day and night
  • 3000m track and obstacle course, instruction in knots

    • Week 2

  • 3000m track, obstacle course, ambushing, hand-to-hand fighting (Krav Maga since 2008)
  • Rappelling, Zodiac boats, ambushing
  • Rappelling, crossing rivers, hand-to-hand fighting, obstacle course
  • Hand-to-hand fighting, obstacle course

    • Week 3 "Hungerweek" max. 1 MRE per week

  • Camouflage, hand-to-hand fighting, obstacle course, night navigation exercise, setting up bivouac
  • SERE exercise
  • 24-hour exercise including transportation of wounded soldiers
  • Survival skills, hand-to-hand fighting
  • Hand-to-hand fighting

    • Week 4

  • Final exercises, 70 km march
  • Debriefing, awarding of Einzelkämpfer patch by commander

    • Sample schedule for advanced course

    Week 1

  • Arrival
  • Introduction, initial physical fitness test (obstacle course in less than 1:50 min, 7000m march with 20 kg backpack in less than 52min)
  • Training in firearms and equipment (ropes, radios,etc.), classroom instruction
  • Hand-to-hand fighting, land navigation, parachute jump
  • Hand-to-hand fighting

    • Week 2

  • Relocation to Sauwald, instruction in handling explosives, instruction in ambushing, map reading
  • Rock climbing in Füssen
  • Basics of commando actions
  • Ambushing
  • Commando exercise
  • Hand-to-hand fighting

    • Week 3

  • Rock climbing
  • Briefing, relocating to training area
  • Infiltration, evasion, reconnaissance, ambushing
  • Evasion and escaping, extraction, debriefing
  • Written test, test for hand-to-hand combat instructor

    • Week 4

  • Written test, commando warfare, briefing
  • Evasion, reconnaissance, ambush
  • Evasion, using hideouts and alternative hideouts
  • Debriefing
  • Hand-to-hand fighting, urban warfare

    • Week 5

  • Briefing, relocation to training area
  • Establishing hideouts, reconnaissance, ambushing
  • Debriefing
  • Returning equipment
  • Awarding of Einzelkämpfer patch, end of course

    • Einzelkämpferabzeichen

    For the successful completion of each part of the course, the Einzelkämpferabzeichen (Lone-warrior badge) patch is awarded. The patch shows either one (for completion of basic course) or two (for completion of advanced course) dark green oak leaved with light green background.

    Comparable courses

  • Ranger school
  • All Arms Commando Course

    • References

    German commando course Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA