Exciting fortress shooting in Germersheim: winners and shooting records!

Exciting fortress shooting in Germersheim: winners and shooting records!

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the traditional fortress shooting of the Air Force Training Battalion took place at the shooting range in Germersheim. Under bright sunshine and excellent weather conditions, around 28 teams and 32 individual shooters gathered to compete against each other in an exciting competition. Lieutenant Colonel Christian Zerau, commander of the battalion, welcomed the participants from the military, politics, business and civil institutions.

The competitions were held in various disciplines, including the P8 pistol, the G36 rifle and the javelin. The shooting took place under special conditions: the G36 rifle was used lying down at 200 meters, while the P8 pistol was used standing with both hands at 20 meters. The participants showed off their skills under the blue skies of the Palatinate, while the Palatinate Casino team took care of their physical well-being.

Results and winners

The competition ended with some impressive results and a happy exchange among those present. Johannes Wegner secured victory in the individual competition for the P8 pistol for non-weapon users, while Helge N. won the individual competition for shooting with the G36 rifle. In the team competition, the alumni of the 14th Air Force Training Regiment 3 triumphed, while Ingo Schneider won the competition. Helge N. also won the authority shooting at the “Fuchsscheibe”, and the challenge cup will therefore remain in the Südpfalz barracks until 2026.

The event also attracted local authority heads, with a total of 10 authority heads represented. They had the opportunity to exchange ideas during the competition and follow what was happening. Fortress shooting not only provides a platform for sporting competition, but also promotes contact between military and civilian actors in the region, which is closely linked to civil-military cooperation (CIMIC). This cooperation is an important part of the Bundeswehr's ability to shape and strengthen relationships between the military and civil society, which is of great importance in the current security policy situation.

Positive atmosphere and exchange

During the festival the atmosphere was consistently positive. Participants and spectators enjoyed the exciting competitions and the opportunity for networking. Breaks were used to have conversations and exchange impressions. The Pfalzkasino team contributed to the good mood and made the event a social gathering.

The event not only highlighted sporting achievements, but also demonstrated the important role of CIMIC measures, as promoted by the Bundeswehr. These aim to create stability and acceptance among the population – a central component of military operations. The successful implementation of this festival shows that exchange between military and civilian organizations is not only possible, but also represents a valuable enrichment, as treffpunkt-pfalz.de and wochenblatt-reporter.de report. A good opportunity to reflect on civil-military cooperation, which is always important. These aspects illustrate how deep the connection between the Bundeswehr and society in the region runs.

Overall, the fortress shooting was a complete success and will certainly be remembered positively. The anticipation for next year, when the challenge cup will be held again, is already noticeable.