The course was established in the early 1980s and is aimed on testing the physical and mental endurance of participants.

It is still a requirement for officers of combat troops, while for non-combat troops it has been replaced by a dedicated survival course (German: Lehrgang infanteristischer Kompetenzerhalt).

The unarmed close quarter combat instructor part of the Advanced course has been modified into its own separate course in 2010.

close quarter combat is still part of the basic course curriculum.

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.