Basic sport instructor training in Germany

Founded in 1957, the sports school of the Bundeswehr is responsible for preparing sport instructors and trainers of the German military. All members of the personnel serving here are highly-trained specialists and top athletes in one person. Having completed, with a successful exam, the “Basic Sport Instructor” training course based on a system of German rules, the participants have become able to plan and organize physical training (PT) for the personnel of military organizations on sports fields and obstacle courses alike. The qualification provided by the course is for four years, after which it must be renewed, but there is also opportunity to acquire higher-level skills within the framework of further training. The three weeks were spent with many novelties, despite the participants’ yearslong experience gained in sports.

“The entire course was characterized by implementation planned and well organized with German precision” – said Warrant Officer András Furman. To a lesser extent, the training course consisted of classroom sessions, but beyond them, the participants spent all their time in some or other sports pavilion, swimming pool, running, football, track and field or obstacle course of the sport school. On top of that, the base has a climbing wall, altogether four sport pavilions, tennis and volleyball courts, an indoor obstacle course, three different gyms, as well as animals and equipment for equestrian sports.

The participants had the opportunity to try out the Basic Military Fitness test, which all local soldiers have to complete wearing battle dress uniform, helmet and body armor.

“It was a real challenge, mainly because we put ourselves to the test right after arriving from a 50-minute spinning session” – recalled Lieutenant Lili Mag. The course included water rescue with imitated military equipment, as well as a water obstacle course. The soldiers learned the importance of strength, speed, endurance, balance, orientation and reaction capability through doing different sports. They laid great emphasis on team sports and task execution in teams to promote camaraderie with the use of proper communication. Speaking at the farewell dinner, Lieutenant Colonel Christian Luetzkendorf, the head of the CISM delegation in German and the initiator of the international course said that he had beens happy to see how the participants arriving from various cultures, ethnic groups and military organizations brought the CISM slogan alive: “Peace and friendship through sport”.