At this year’s ‘Leistungsspange’ assessment, the participants impressively demonstrated their skills, fitness and, above all, their team spirit. The ‘Leistungsspange’ is regarded as the highest honour awarded by the German Youth Fire Brigade and requires a successful group or relay performance across several disciplines. Following intensive preparation, the young people competed in speed drills, firefighting exercises, a relay race, shot put and a question-and-answer round. The assessment focused not only on firefighting knowledge and physical fitness, but also on the group’s collective presentation and cooperation within the team or relay squad.
There was already a hive of activity at the event site in Kirkel-Limbach early in the morning. Under the watchful eyes of the judges, the young people completed the individual tasks with great concentration and motivation. The fire-fighting exercise and the speed drill in particular demonstrated just how well the group had been prepared for the challenges. The months of preparation paid off: in the end, all the young people who took part successfully met the requirements and were awarded the coveted achievement badge. The joy among the young people, their supervisors and the accompanying parents and guests was correspondingly great.
A successful day, which the young people are sure to remember for a long time to come, drew to a close with applause and numerous congratulations. The teams from St. Ingbert/Gersheim, as well as Blieskastel 1 and Blieskastel 2, took part. The participating teams were Kirkel, Mandelbachtal 1 and 2, Bexbach, Homburg 1 and Homburg 2 (Jägersburg/Kirrberg).
“We would like to thank the municipality of Kirkel, and Mayor Dominik Hochlenert, for providing the venue and for the warm welcome we received in Limbach,” emphasised District Youth Officer Dirk Sandmayer.
As part of the Leistungsspange ceremony, the Saarpfalz-Kreis Youth Fire Brigade’s Badge of Honour was also presented to deserving individuals. This special award recognises people who have shown great dedication over many years and have played a key role in shaping community life within the youth fire brigade. This award was presented to Christian Müller and Klaus Tramenau (Frankenholz fire station), Eric Müller (Erfweiler-Ehlingen fire station), Andreas Schiweck (Wolfersheim fire station), Thomas von Hofen (Kirrberg fire brigade) and Peter Rümkorff (RTE Recycling). The badge of honour was presented by Dirk Sandmayer, the representative for the youth fire brigades in the Saarpfalz district, and District Fire Inspector Stefan Schrögler. To the applause of the guests, the honourees accepted their awards. It was a special moment that visibly recognised their many years of dedication.