Mountain Warfare School

[gagners]

ADVISOR: Nothing in this post violates any course OPSEC.

At the suggestion of a QP, I thought I would post a quick informational bit on the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) and post some photos from summer phase. Although you'll read below that there are two phases to the basic course, there is talk at the Infantry School about changing it to one three-week course. If you are there in the winter, you'll get more winter training, same for summer courses.

BLUF: A tough, challenging, fun, and very professional course. Although they focus on technical aspects of mountaineering, with very little on the tactics side, a student can readily see the tactical applications of the training and the use of terrain to enhance operational effectiveness.

If you are headed there, here's some pointers to make life easier:

-Know your knots. They can be found in the student handout, found on the benning webpage.

-Be able to ruck uphill (I'm sure the QPs have no problems here).

-At least be familiar with the concept of using an altimeter for land navigation. Although this course shouldn't pose a problem to the QPers (who've seen badder courses), traditional Joes will find it difficult - about a third to half of the class will struggle with it.

Other than that: Do what you're told, listen to the instructors (who are world-class mountaineers themselves), and have fun - if you're not afraid of heights...

MORE TO FOLLOW WHEN I FINISH THE WINTER PHASE CIRCA MID JANUARY...

From the student handout:

Historical Overview

Established in 1983 as a result of “Project Green Mountain”, the United States Army’s Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) currently consists of four progressive courses of instruction (Basic Summer, Basic Winter, Assault Climber Summer, and Assault Climber Winter). The design of each level is to prepare warriors to operate in a mountainous and cold weather environment. The Army Mountain Warfare School is the only TRADOC-approved Schoolhouse authorized to provide the Skill Qualification Identifier (SQI) “E”, Military Mountaineer, to the Army.

The Army Mountain Warfare School was established in April 1983 to train the only mountain unit in the Force Structure, the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (MTN). The curriculum design broadens the warriors knowledge and hence the unit’s capabilities. The curriculum is designed to enable the warrior to operate in a mountainous and cold weather environment in both the summer and winter and to enable him to assist his command in planning for operations in that terrain and environment. The prime educational technique employed throughout most of the course is the small group participatory learning process.

The Army Mountain Warfare School is the Executive Agent for Military Mountaineering for its proponent, the United States Army Infantry School. The School is responsible for the content of Field Manual 3-97.61, Military Mountaineering. The School is the only non-European Permanent Member of the International Association of Military Mountain Schools (IAMMS).

The Army Mountain Warfare School curriculum is broken down into four two-week courses with three general type of mountain-specific skills taught in each; individual, small unit and medical. The Basic Military Mountaineer Courses must be completed before the Assault Climber Courses. The training focus is on seeding the Force Structure with warriors capable of assisting their unit to move through and sustain themselves in the harsh mountain environment.


TWO OF THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE ACTUALLY A QP WHO WAS IN MY SQUAD. I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE THEM.