The Northern Illinois University ROTC program sent nine cadets to Macomb, where Western Illinois University’s ROTC program hosted an event to earn a foreign military badge.

The German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge is a decoration awarded to German soldiers who meet the rigorous physical standards set forth by the Bundeswehr. The award also can be earned by non-German soldiers. There are very few opportunities for U.S. soldiers to earn a foreign award, making this event especially attractive to NIU’s ROTC cadets.

The most challenging part of earning the award is that a German officer or non-commissioned officer must preside over the event. Sgt. Major Matthias Lueck from the German Liaison Office at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., presided over the WIU event.