The last group of sixty-four conscripts of the 610th Signal Battalion, who tarted their service this year, took a soldier’s vow during a ceremony held in Prenzlau on 23 March 2011. Among the honourable guests was the Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast Lieutenant General Rainer Korff.
Due to recent changes introduced at the German Armed Forces, which resulted in among other things pulling out compulsory military service, the last solemn vow ceremony for conscripts of the 610th Signal Battalion was organised in Prenzlau to celebrate this special moment in every soldier’s life.
Already after dusk, when the only sources of light were stars and the moon, soldiers holding torches marched into the area of ceremony, right in front of the City Hall in Prenzlau. The Commander of the 610th Signal Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bomhardt welcomed all the honourable guests, among them the Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast Lieutenant General Rainer Korff, partner organisations, and representatives of the municipal, regional and federal authorities, uniformed services as well as families and friends of the soldiers.
“Last week, we built and run command posts for the exercise of the Multinational Corps Northeast,” said Lieutenant Colonel Bomhardt expressing his consent with General Korff’s presence at the ceremony. Since the 610th Signal Battalion as part of the Command Support Brigade, a unit assigned to Multinational Corps Northeast for missions and exercises, Lieutenant Colonel Bomhardt was also very happy to welcome Colonel Marian Matoszka, the Deputy Commander of the Command Support Brigade, the Commander of the 104th Support Battalion and Command Sergeant Major Szkudło. “I am looking forward to the next exercise Bold Eagle. Your attendance is a clear and visible sign of our strong cooperation. Thank you!” he said. He also welcomed Mr Rafał Zając, the Vice Mayor of Stargard Szczeciński, home garrison of the Command Support Brigade Headquarters.
“Taking vows in the presence of the public has been a tradition in the Bundeswehr. They underline the understanding of the service of ‘citizens in uniforms’ for the country,” General Korff said to the conscript soldiers. “You will win experiences of the lifetime, and maybe, just like many of your predecessors, decide to serve longer for the Bundeswehr,” General Korff added. “I wish you a lot of soldier’s luck, valuable experiences and trust in your future way of life,” he summarized.
Short speeches were also delivered by the Mayor of Prenzlau and the Company Commander responsible for basic training of the conscripts. The highlight of the ceremony was the actual soldier’s vow. Six selected conscript soldiers stepped out of the formation and took a vow on the German flag. All conscript soldiers repeated the words of the vow out loud. Then, the MNC NE Commander, the 610th Commander and the Mayor of Prenzlau shook hands and congratulated the soldiers.
It is important to underline that the evening ceremony was preceded by a visit of families in the barracks, where the conscripts had served for the three months. It was a very unique opportunity for family members and friends to see the soldiers “in action” as they presented their shooting skills and took a special obstacle course presenting their physical fitness.
