| "Border Soldier -
Judo without a belt"Paramilitary
Training:
The training for a border soldier actually started before a conscript entered
the military. Paramilitary training was conducted by The Society for Sports and
Technology (Gesellschaft fuer Sport &
Technik). In this organization
16 -18 year olds
learned basic military skills such as marksmanship, vehicle training,
communications, and physical training. In addition to basic skills, the GST also
taught specialized skills such as flight and parachute training.
The preparation evidently paid off. Conscripts that participated in the
GST (almost 50% of the draftees) accounted for less than 10% of the visits to
military medical facilities during their military training cycles. |
"Border Soldier - Judo without a belt" |
|||
| Basic
Training:
Each year, the Grenztruppen inducted soldiers by drafts during early May and
November. From there the conscripts entered basic training for what were
basically infantry-related skills taught over a four week period. The training
tract of the border soldier closely followed that of an infantryman with
training in military skills such as marksmanship, combat engineering, tactics,
nuclear and chemical training, first aid, and map reading. As part of their
training the Grenztruppen conscript was required to hit two moving
targets at 200 meters with only four shots. This requirement was for
both day and night firing. |
||||
| Advanced Training: Following basic training the border soldier was assigned to a training regiment to undergo five months of advanced skills training. Here, the border trooper learned how to search for border violators, conduct inspection and identity checks, and traffic control. As a member of the Border Training Regiment, the new border guard also went on actual border patrols. Although patrolling and other tactical skills were an important part of a new border guard's training, approximately 50% of the training during the first six months of service was devoted to political and ideological training to ensure political reliability. Like most new recruits, though, many of the necessary skills would be learned later when the soldier reported to his unit. | 
Search and tracking exercise. - NVA |
|||
| Border
Scout School. Border Guards who attended this school were hand picked because of their superior skills, sense of duty, and political reliability. Trust was key, because often the only thing separating a border scout, or GAK, from freedom was a single step across the border. Students at the school were NCOs, warrant officers, and officers. Not only did students concentrate on military skills needed on the border, but they were also trained in espionage. GAKs also worked with East German Intelligence and conducted reconnaissance missions up to 50 kilometers into West Germany. |
||||
Level 1 Border Guard Qualification Badge. There were a total of three skill levels with a badge given for each. Level 1 was the highest. - TDP |
||||
