Spc. Isaac Buxton of the 1st Armored Division, Task Force Iron, is pictured squeezing off rounds from a German Army HK G36 during the Schützenschnur qualification at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania back in August 2025. This isn’t just some casual range day—it’s the prestigious German marksmanship badge program, where U.S. Soldiers got to train side-by-side with their Bundeswehr hosts, firing foreign battle rifles under strict NATO interoperability drills. The G36, with its lightweight polymer construction and 5.56 NATO punch, might look futuristic compared to our M4s, but it’s a reminder of how modular, reliable designs have become the global standard for infantry arms.

For the 2A community, this photo hits different. It’s a vivid showcase of how elite warriors from free nations cross-train on each other’s gear, honing skills that keep tyrants at bay—skills any American gun owner can relate to at their local range. The Schützenschnur isn’t handed out; it’s earned through precision drills at 100, 200, and 300 meters, emphasizing fundamentals like sight alignment and trigger control that transcend platforms. Imagine importing that discipline stateside: U.S. troops mastering the G36’s caseless-adjacent ergonomics could inspire civilian shooters to demand similar access to imported rifles, pushing back against ATF import bans that stifle innovation. In an era of rising global threats, events like this underscore why a well-armed populace, versed in diverse systems, is the ultimate safeguard—our Founders knew it, and so do these Soldiers.

The implications ripple outward. As NATO allies tighten bonds amid Eastern European tensions, expect more such exchanges, potentially unlocking civilian-legal G36 variants or clones for the U.S. market. For 2A advocates, it’s ammo for arguments on training reciprocity: if GIs can qualify on German iron, why not let Americans own and train with it? This POTD isn’t just eye candy—it’s a pro-2A flex on international cooperation, proving marksmanship unites us all.