German Commando Course

The Bundeswehr (raid-) commando course (German: ''Einzelkämpferlehrgang'') is a course conducted by the German Bundeswehr. The course was established in the early 1980s and is aimed on testing the physical and mental endurance of participants. It teaches special skills and tactics necessary to operate and survive under stressful conditions, and Jagdkampf advanced infantry tactics.

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 was taught at the German paratrooper school in Altenstadt, Upper Bavaria, now only at the German infantry school in Hammelburg. It is still a requirement for officers of combat troops, while for non-combat troops it has been replaced by a dedicated survival course (German: ''Lehrgang infanteristischer Kompetenzerhalt'').

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

The course is separated into two parts:

Basic course (''Grundlehrgang'') EKL1
* Survival-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
* {{flagicon, United Kingdom All Arms Commando Course

References

(in English)


(in German)

(in German)

Bundeswehr
Military education and training in Germany
Commando training