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A mountain leader is a military professional specialising in delivering training for, or leading, operations in high altitude and / or extremely low temperature environments.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2022) |
A mountain leader is a military professional specialising in delivering training for, or leading, operations in high altitude and / or extremely low temperature environments.
The conduct of warfare in high altitude or arctic environments in the British Armed Forces is the province of 3 Commando Brigade, a formation of the Royal Marines with a number of attached army elements. The brigade conducts annual training in the northern regions of Norway and has been deployed for high altitude operations globally.
Associated with the tasking as the lead force for mountain and Arctic warfare is the existence of the trade specialisation mountain leader (ML). Each sub-unit within the brigade is complemented with at least one mountain leader who will have undergone training in the Mountain Leader Training Cadre, formerly known as the Mountain and Arctic Training Cadre.
Marines from the Netherlands Marine Corps and special forces from NLMARSOF jointly train with the British Royal Marines and follow the same training program as their British counterpart.
Mountain leaders (USMC and US Army) have extensive practical experience in a variety of mountain environments in both winter and summer conditions. They have well-developed hazard evaluation and safe route finding skills over all types of mountainous terrain. Mountain leaders are best qualified to advise commanders on all aspects of mountain operations, particularly the preparation and leadership required to move units over technically difficult, hazardous, or exposed terrain. In most cases the mountain leader is the highest level of qualification and is the principle trainer for conducting mountain operations. Mountain warfare instructor experience at a mountain training center or as a member of a special operations forces (SOF) mountain team is critical to the mountain leader development. Below is a list of the additional knowledge and skills expected of mountain leaders. Depending on the specific area of operation (AO), mountain leaders may need additional over-the-snow mobility skills such as snowshoeing and skiing.
The Italian Army mountain leaders are trained at the Alpine Training Center (Centro Addestramento Alpino) [1] of Aosta, and serve as instructors in all the Alpini specialized mounted warfare Regiments [2] and in the Sport Activities Unit (Reparto Attività Sportive). [3] There are eight different levels of Mountain Leader in the Italian Army, [4] as follows:
The mountain leaders of the French Army are trained at the High Mountain Military School (École militaire de haute montagne) [5] of Chamonix and serve as instructors in all the Chasseurs alpins specialized mounted warfare Regiments and in the High Mountain Military Group (Groupe Militaire de Haute Montagne). [6] There are five different levels of Mountain Leader in the French Army, as follows:
Some other countries have similar specialists for operating in cold and high altitude environment.
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.
Ski warfare is the use of ski-equipped troops in war.
Gaston Rébuffat was a French alpinist, mountain guide, and author. He is well known as a member of the first expedition to summit Annapurna 1 in 1950 and the first man to climb all six of the great north faces of the Alps. In 1984, he was made an officer in the French Legion of Honour for his service as a mountaineering instructor for the French military. At the age of 64, Gaston Rébuffat died of cancer in Paris, France. The climbing technique Gaston was named after him. A photo of Rébuffat atop the Aiguille du Roc in the French Alps can be found on the Voyager Golden Records.
The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickel Meadows on California State Route 108 at 6,800 feet (2,100 m) above sea level in the Toiyabe National Forest, 21 miles (34 km) northwest of Bridgeport, California. The training center exists to train units in complex compartmented terrain.
A mountain guide is a specially trained and experienced professional mountaineer who is certified by local authorities or mountain guide associations. They are considered to be high-level experts in mountaineering, and are hired to instruct or lead individuals or small groups who require this advanced expertise. This professional class of guides arose in the middle of the 19th century when Alpine climbing became recognized as a sport.
The Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) was founded in November 2004. It was decided at the meeting that all mountain leader associations would be awarded the same carnet and badge giving an internationally recognised identity. It also paves the way for other countries from around the world to join UIMLA setting a world standard for mountain leaders. The principal aims of UIMLA are:
The United States Army Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) is the name of a United States Army Alaska (USARAK) special skills training unit and facility located in Black Rapids, Alaska, managed out of Fort Wainwright. It is the Active Army's only cold region training proponent.
André Eugène Marcel Pourchier was a French military officer whose last rank was Lieutenant-Colonel.
Enrico Silvestri was an Italian Alpini officer and skier.
Luigi Perenni, before 1934 Prenn, was an Italian military officer and skier.
Sisto Michele Scilligo (1911–1992) was an Italian Alpini soldier and skier.
Stefano Sertorelli was an Italian soldier and skier.
Gilbert Morand was a French non-commissioned officer and skier.
Francesco Vida was an Italian military officer and skier.
The 2005 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship was the first edition of a South American continental championship of competition ski mountaineering,
Claudio Nieto Jiménez is a Chilean ski mountaineer and triathlete.
Maj. Harsh Vardhan Bahuguna was a leading mountaineer of India and a military officer. He was an instructor of skiing and mountaineering at the High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg and had successfully climbed many mountains.
The École militaire de haute montagne (ÉMHM) is a training establishment of the French Army, that trains French and allied service personnel in mountain warfare, skiing, mountain leadership, and arctic warfare.
The Army High Altitude School (AHAS) is a training and research school of Pakistan Army located in Rattu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. In December 1987, Pakistan Army established this training school for troops in high altitude and mountain warfare including skiing.