A Normal Day on the Border Translated from a Grenztruppen recruiting brochure

He is a Border soldier. Nothing more, nothing less. The protection of our state border lies in his hands and the hands of his Comrades. Already he carries a high responsibility.

Lieutenant Finger

  Lt. Andreas Finger, 26 years old, is a platoon leader in a company of the Grenztruppen.  Border service and the training of the NCOs and soldiers dictates his day. Sitting around the breakfast table are members of his platoon. In an hour their shift will be over. The platoon leader has assigned everyone a function in the event of an alert, but so far there hasn't been one. Border Alert! Every one jumps up and grabs weapons, radios, and run to their vehicles to hurry to the border. All that remains is an overturned chair. It can wait until later.

 

In the border area snow remains unmelted from last year's winter. The company commander informs the platoon leader of the alert area and gives him precise instructions. Every border soldier knows to act prudently and quickly.

Today, the alert was a training exercise. Soon they are back at they company area and there are still orders to give. Andreas Finger knows he can depend on his comrades, his deputy, and squad leaders. At first it was difficult to learn the strengths and weaknesses of his men. It required time and experience.

In the meantime the NCOs and soldiers of the platoon take over their border duties. And the Platoon Leader? According to the duty plan he accompanies a patrol on their rounds. There are many points to be covered in the all-terrain Trabant - what the soldiers jokingly refer to as the "Stoffhund."  At a fork in the road there is a short meeting with a Volunteer Helper of the Grenztruppen. They exchange notes and the Lieutenant gives a task.  A short handshake and they're off again.
Ten minutes later: a stop at the edge of the woods. The Platoon Leader and his companions observe a clearing and then walk along the control strip. Now and then they stop, look around, and watch for tracks. A bent branch demands attention. Here wild game was at work, all is calm. Yes, rabbits and deer sometimes make a border soldier's life difficult. 
By the way, tracking is an important skill for every member of the Border Company. Many hours are spent with instructors and students in the "tracking box" - a sand box used in recognizing tracks. And "recognition" it is because they must read the age, the size , the direction of travel,  and possible deceptions. A border soldier should never err!
Last station of the Kontrolle is the command center of the company. Here is where the Platoon Leader and the Platoon Sergeant wait.  Today he is the Commander of Border Security. To him flows all the information in the border sector either by radio or by the border telephone system. The Sergeant coordinates all the border security activities in the sector.  Vigilance, caution, and decisiveness are the traits in demand.

The Platoon Leader knows the ropes in his duties as the Commander of Border Security.  He often takes in these duties. No problem for him, his Deputy stands by with advice and action.

Lieutenant Finger is positive in implementing the exact orders for border duties and informs them of the situation in the border sector. Then he wishes them a good shift.

Once more the Platoon leader on this day knows one advantage of border service is working outdoors. He well knows dealing with icy wind, cold and wet weather can quickly have the opposite effect. But for Andreas Finger it doesn't matter. To become a border soldier was his wish - Border soldier, that is his life."
Source: Photos and text translated from Dein Beruf: Militaerische Berufe in den Grenztruppen der DDR