He was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
From March 1999 to July 2000, Gleffe was a conscript, serving in the air defences of the German army.
[2] On 22 July 2011, during the attack on the island of Utøya, he saved lives by departing the pier at Utvika (when he heard shots being fired at Utøya) with his motor boat (for 6 people,[3] model "Pioner 15"), and throwing life vests to fleeing swimmers while heading for Utøya, and picking up refugees of the massacre.
On 15 June 2012, Gleffe was awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds in silver.
[6] His award was given for "by risking his own life, he placed himself as the first on the scene with a boat to save members of AUF who were swimming for their lives, away from death."