German commando course
The German commando course (German: Einzelkämpferlehrgang lit. Lone-fighter course) is a commando course offered by the German Bundeswehr. The course was established in the early 1980s and it is aimed on testing the physical and mental endurance of participants, to teach special skills, tactics necessary to operate, and to survive under stressful conditions, and for the Jagdkampf tactic. 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 is taught by the German paratrooper school in Altenstadt, Upper Bavaria. It is still a requirement for officers of combat troops, while it is replaced by a survival course (German: Überleben im Einsatz lit. survival during mission).
The armless close quarter combat instructor part of the course was made into its own separate course in 2010. It now follows the Krav Maga lessons.
The course is separated into two parts:
Basic course (Grundlehrgang) EKL1
- SERE-skills
- Small unit tactics
Advanced course (Leistungslehrgang) EKL2
- Instructor for previously acquired skills
- Leader of commando-style unit
- Guerrilla warfare
Sample schedule for basic course
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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, 70km march
- Debriefing, awarding of Einzelkämpfer patch by commander
Sample schedule for advanced course
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Week 1
- Arrival
- Introduction, initial physical fitness test (obstacle course in less than 1:50 min, 7000m march with 20kg 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
| Einzelkämpferabzeichen | |
|---|---|
| Type | Patch |
| Description | Awarded in two levels |
| Country |  Germany |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | Early 1980s |
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.
