Forging Leaders in the High Grounds: NATO’s Mountain Warfare Course Elevates Allied Capabilities in Poland
From 17 to 28 November 2025, the picturesque town of Szklarska Poręba in Poland became the center of NATO’s efforts to advance interoperability and tactical capability in mountain environments. The Mountain Warfare Small Unit Leaders Course (SULC), hosted by the Polish Military Academy of Land Forces, brought together students from 10 NATO Allied nations in a demanding multinational training experience. The course was implemented by the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) through its Mobile Education and Training Team (METT).
The training was designed to meet the modern demands of mountain warfare by blending theoretical planning, digital battlefield visualization tools, and tactical decision-making techniques. Participants were introduced to the operational challenges posed by terrain, weather, and limited mobility in mountainous terrain, with an emphasis on modern planning frameworks and practical solutions relevant to today’s combat and crisis response environments.
After an intensive preparatory phase focused on military mountaineering skills, the participants transitioned into the rugged Karkonosze mountain range. This natural training ground tested their leadership and planning proficiency under real-world conditions, offering a comprehensive link between classroom instruction and the realities of operating in harsh environments.
Drawn from different NATO nations, the participants converged in a crucible of shared challenge—exchanging wisdom, forging trust, and weaving bonds of interoperability. Their alliance was not only written in plans, but carved into snow-covered ridgelines and strengthened through the steady, silent discipline of movement across the mountains.
This course is a shining example of successful institutional collaboration within the Alliance. The partnership between the Polish Military Academy of Land Forces and the MW COE demonstrates NATO’s shared drive to harmonize education and training standards, foster innovation, and deliver impactful training experiences. By investing in modern mountain warfare education and empowering the next generation of small unit leaders, NATO is preparing for tomorrow’s challenges—one summit at a time.
