Grenztruppen Auf Ziet Soldiers/NCO Tunic Length of Use?

[Stasi]

Hello. I was wondering if any esteemed Gennosen can clear up a point that has been bothering me for awhile. I realise that soldiers and NCO's serving a minimum of 10 years and below were classed as "Auf Zeit" and wore wool based tunics but were these worn for that whole time or, after so many years, were they swapped for garbadine tunics?

[eastgermansks]

I believe they had to make the commitment as career soldiers to get the gaberdine. -Luke

[iannima]

I think that 10 years is too many: Unteroffizier auf Zeit signed up for 3 years instead of the normal 18 months. I think signing up for more than 3 years meant that one became Berufunteroffizier and therefore one got the gabardine uniform. That's what I recall from past discussions.

[RedBaran11]

Unteroffizier auf Zeit (Short-Term, aka Non-Career NCO's) served 3 years.

Berufsunteroffizier (Career NCO's) served a minimum of 10 years. Keep in mind the 10 years is a minimum.

Genosse Ianima is correct, if a UaZ decided to service more than 3 years, he would become a Berufsunteroffizier and switch from wool to gaberdine.