Issue Nr. 1 March 2006 - NATO School

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Best of the best By SGM Manfred Klimek, PAO During a German ‚End of Year Party’ at the ‘Kolbenalm’ restaurant in Oberammergau, Colonel (GS) Gerhard Schepe said goodbye to the German Community of the NATO School. During the official part of this party Colonel Schepe recognized some members of the German Element for their performed duties. Colonel (GS) Gerhard Schepe reading the laudatory of the formal recognition to Captain Stefan Diederich. Six soldiers received a Formal Recognition (Förmliche Anerkennung), which, in the German Armed Forces, is only given to soldiers who have performed their duties above and beyond average for a longer period of time. With pride the following soldiers accepted the “Förmliche Anerkennung” with honour: LTC Bernd Weber, J-6 CPT Stefan Diederich, J-1 CPT Rainer Lau, J-2 StFw Jochen Zimmermann, School SGM Sgt Michael Schaller, Policy Department CPL Christian Pop, J-4 Transportation NATO School Community Bulletin March 2006 Edition Left to right: LTC Weber, CPL Pop, Cpt Lau, Sgt Schaller and StFw Zimmermann During an official small ceremony Colonel Wilhelm Bernhard Vitzthum took the military oath off PFC Andreas Schwachhofer. By swearing this oath, PFC Schwachhofer switched from being a conscript to become a voluntary professional soldier for a period of four years service in the German Armed Forces. He will perform these years in the J-4 Transportation department of the NATO School as a driver. Congratulations! Colonel Vitzthum congratulates PFC Schwachhofer
König Ludwig Lauf 2006 By SM Sjon Selles, PAO For the 34 th time one of the biggest cross country ski race in the Southern German region was organized: the König Ludwig Lauf. Traditionally this race is organized every first weekend in February each year (weather permitting). In 2006 more than 4,200 people (new record!) from more than 30 nations participated in four disciplines and there was a separate race for the children. The disciplines you could start in were: - 50 km classic style - 23 km classic style - 50 km free style (skating) - 23 km free style (skating) There was also a team from the NATO School which participated. Most of the participants started in the 23 km classic style. I have asked some participants about the race and here are some of their reactions (in no particular order): Wg Cdr Tim Payne (23 km classic style in 2 hr 17 min 57sec) Why did you participate in this race? I’m a firm believer that life is measured in achievements not in years alone and that you should grab those opportunities as they become available – this was one of those opportunities. How did you prepare yourself for the race? I turned to x-country skiing simply because for nearly five months of the year one is unable to run along the tracks and x-country skiing is the most viable alternative for keeping fit – I have only been x-country skiing since my arrival at the NATO School and enjoy the excitement and competition of a race, I regularly ski home to Unterammergau at the end of the day and try to go for a long ski at weekends. Were you nervous before the start? Not really, this was my third König Ludwig Lauf race and I knew what to expect – my main concern was to avoid the carnage that always occurs close to the start as skiers negotiate the first incline and climb up to the Ettal Berg whilst tracks narrow from 30 lanes to just three. How did you experience the race? Very soon the elite athletes have soared ahead and skiers get into packs of fairly matched ability - I was constantly wishing I had better skis to enable me to be more competitive – but perhaps it had something to do with technique as well. NATO School Community Bulletin March 2006 Edition What did you particularly like about this race? The healthy competition, camaraderie and sense of achievement of competing in an event alongside athletes who are at the top of their class. What was your first thought when you crossed the finish line? The kilometer markers tick off your progress as you ski around the course; at each marker you asses how much further it is to go and work out approximately how much longer your body has to suffer – then all of a sudden there’s only one kilometer left and you reach into those reserves to try and catch the person in front – crossing the finish line comes as a relief of an emotional and physical pressure valve. Do you plan to participate in the next König Ludwig Lauf cross country ski race? Unfortunately this was my last König Ludwig Lauf race before my family and I move to Izmir. Perhaps I will look for the opportunity of competing in wind surfing races along the Turkish coast instead. LTC Kathleen Gerenda (23 km classic style in 2 hr 41 min 21sec) Why did you participate in this race? To challenge myself by doing something I’ve never done. I missed the event last year, but I heard such good things about it that I just had to be a part of it. How did you prepare yourself for the race? Running and cycling, a great lesson from Joe Isherwood, some weekend and night skiing (I learned that night skiing is much easier with a headlamp. J) Were you nervous before the start? ABSOLUTELY, but after the spill on the first hill, I was okay. What did you particularly like about this race? The community atmosphere, the air of competition, the challenge of pushing myself (because it was indeed a race), the post-race “war story” time along with the feeling that you could now eat anything you wanted (almost) because you just burned four bazillion calories. What was your first thought when you crossed the finish line? I DID IT! YAHOO!! Do you plan to participate in the next König Ludwig Lauf cross country ski race? Yes. SSG Marko Pogorevc (50 km free style in 2 hr 34 min 44 sec) Why did you participate in this race? I did race because I love cross-country skiing and I need some motivation for training. How did you prepare yourself for the race? I had no special preparation for that race concerning training, but I put a lot of effort to waxing skies before the race. And if I’m honest for me I did it fine, but some of the other guys (they had same wax on skies) said to me after race that it could have gone better. Were you nervous before the start? I am always nervous before the start. That’s special feeling you can feel it only if you are going to the races. How did you experience the race? Well, that could be a long story, but in one sentence I could only say IT WAS COLD. If you want to know more details ask me when we’ll meet each other.
Page 1 and 2: Issue Nr. 1 March 2006
Page 3 and 4: From the Commandant The past few mo
Page 5 and 6: NATO School NCO selected as 2005 AC
Page 7 and 8: NATO School Commandant SUBJECT: NAT
Page 9 and 10: 3) VIKING 2005: NS has provided sig
Page 11 and 12: Friday 10 March 2006 NATO School Sl
Page 13 and 14: “Three Stars” at Battlefield By
Page 15: NATO School Community Bulletin Marc
Page 19 and 20: Mario’s Corner NATO School Commun
Page 21 and 22: The Passion Play of Oberammergau By
Page 23 and 24: NATO School Kofel Golf Society trip
Page 25 and 26: NATO School Community Bulletin Marc
Page 27 and 28: NATO School Community Bulletin Marc
Page 29 and 30: REST 1 BIO 1 YEL 1 PAPER 1 NATO Sch
Page 31: NATO School Community Bulletin Marc

Issue Nr. 1 March 2006 - NATO School

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