European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 01, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Of he crawls hundreds of Yards on infiltration courses with rounds sailing Over his head he runs obstacle courses until he thinks he could do them blindfolded he throws live. Grenades at Dummy targets. V1 train la by Phil Dodson what is life like in the German Lei armed forces to find out a stars and stripes reporter and photographer team paid w a visit to a Basic training company at i of Edersheim near Worms to get a close look at recruit life in the Bun Des Wehr. Watching Green recruits fumbling their Way through the Maze of physical and aptitude tests and infantry train ing it was apparent that the Basic trainee in the Uncle swear is not much different from the recruit in any army. � by the time he enters a Basic train 351ing company he has already experienced the difference Between the right Way and the army he has a vague idea that his monthly _ stipend of $22.50 As a recruit will be d earned. He will also learn to his horror that pc his pre induction physical and Aputi tude tests were nothing compared to what is in store for him during what is affection ally referred to As Zero a upon completion of a favourable med ical Check the inductee May request assignment to the Branch and area of his Choice. Whether he receives his re Quested assignment is dependent upon two factors a vacancy must exis Ana the individual must be qualified Toi training in that Field. We attempt to assign men to the Job for which they Are Best suited maj. Ernst Holter a German Inoima Tion officer at Cental he said i wit occasionally it s just not possible. In the first of his three months of Basic training he encounters p and demanding training of a sow Lei. Capt. Klaus p. Scheuerl co of th740th German Basic my at of Edersheim exp week or Zero week is spent � processing. During this tune the a Ainee is assigned to a Barracks a lends Onen nations takes aptitude tests fills � forms is Given immunizations Anu g his uniform Jewhen All the processing lie rethought would never end is u suddenly finds himself Hmine a killer. Another old adage endeared and imbedded in the hearts of by Aery where is found to be i u. Cup and wait. He goes t a Tine if not willingly w1T Humoured sense of i be 53oin this period his Days surf m. He . And usually "�f1 at " dido i i aia Hai Wriler g-3 Semi automatic Rifle _ Forward he crawls Hun cards on infiltration courses j sailing Over his head he Cle courses until he thinks them blindfolded he throws Sion hand grenades at Dum he will throw and be after time in hand to hand will freeze under the ares during the Many night Bably put the greatest pm night combat training says lit is required that we spend of our training time on trainee the go Power aged life is a Well balanced committee with a med-1 As a member decides the Jvance insuring that the re pcs and minerals Are pres diet. Menu reads breakfast ,1 am Coffee milk lunches roast beef dessert id plate or Fried potatoes a cheese and bread milk we a serious business As an example one of the is for promotion to an no i the prospective no be line German sports medal warded in any of five Dif phones covering swimming v of e1 Runn no and sports mud endurance. Be important but visiting going to a movie Reading Slettin in a " equally television and can St also provide the trooper n to Ancl Hinss of do i Ini a a we favorite nor Neal Soldate Nheim of these club tailored to Here he cach with and regular a radio an l other t ". His room and e s quarters German trainee gets a taste of life on the inside of a Gas mask Early in Basic. Company co capt. Klaus Scheuerl huddles with cos during pause in tests. Is photos by Merle Hunter recruits fan out across open Field in tactical training phase of Basic. Page 12 the stars and stripes 1968 the stars and stripes
