<
>

Semper Communis! – This sentence describes what many people do and live like in the German armed forces. They stand together in every situation of their lifes.

This is just one reason why young Germans decide to become an officer in the German Air Force and feel the honour and pride that comes along with the job.


Each year in early October you can see many Young Germans at the age of 17 – 27 coming to Munich with the hope to become a German Air Force Officer. Often they just finished school and many people would say that they don’t know anything about life and what’s going on in the world. Before they already passed a test that took three days where only one quarter of the participants go through. So it is a big privilege to even come to Munich. The critics can’t understand why these young guys chose to fight in wars and risk their lifes in a war that is obviously not there’s because they have to fight far away from their own country.


Surely there is some kind of understatement, but there are so many opportunities that come along with the job, the critics may not know.

Standing on your own feet and gaining much money may be a big motivation for some of these young soldiers. Moreover, they have to go through a selection-period of eleven months, passing exams, living in a community, especially with their room-mates in small rooms, and gaining live experience. Comradeship is the word that matters in the German Armed Forces the most. It means that every Soldier will take responsibility for each other and will stand by his side in every situation. “Comradeship begins where friendship ends” supports the strong meaning of being a part of the GAF to every soldier. After passing these tests and getting the impressions of living comradeship, they are allowed to take the next step.


University life – That is determining the next four to five years. A German Officer differs most in that point from other Armed Forces Officers. So you have a very good student life on the one hand and on the other hand the chance to make big points for the future life, maybe even outside the Forces. So after twelve years, an Officer will be able to get a highly-qualified job in the civil area as well as in the Forces because they know how to handle the responsibility for many people, material and objects that are worth much money.


Afterwards student days are gone and the days of a real Soldier will begin when the Lieutenants join their units. In Comparison to other people of their age, these guys come from the university and stand in charge directly. In my mind that is one of the biggest qualifications you can get at that age. Leading other people means not just telling them what to do, moreover it means training them, reaching their physical and psychological limitations and making them better in what they do every day.


To refer to the beginning, the pride and honour that comes along with the job is the biggest pleasure someone can achieve. Serving Germany means fighting for freedom and for peace in the world. Surely protecting not just the own family but moreover the citizens of the whole country you love, is worth fighting every day! Concluding this part, there is a soldier’s definition of Freedom: “99,7% of the Germans wake up every morning and enjoy their freedom, while only 0,3% wake up every day and defend it”.


All in all you can see that there may be critical voices about becoming a GAF Officer but the positive facts that come along with the job like comradeship, responsibility at young age, very high physical qualification and working for the country you love are definitely more important.



| | | | |
Tausche dein Hausarbeiten