Mountain Cell Course – Lessons Identified Workshop 2026

Mountain Cell Lessons Identified Workshop 2026

The NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) will conduct the Mountain Cell Lessons Identified (LI) Workshop on 2–3 December 2026 at the NATO MW COE in Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia.

The workshop is the analytical follow-on to the 2026 Mountain Cell Train-the-Trainer (TTT) event and Mountain Cell SOP Training. It will be a highly interactive, experience-driven and output-oriented activity focused on analysing significant observations collected during these events and translating them into actionable recommendations for future Mountain Cell training and employment.

Intended Audience

Participation is primarily limited to personnel who participated in the Mountain Cell Train-the-Trainer event and/or the Mountain Cell SOP Training. Additional subject matter experts may also be accepted by the NATO MW COE where their expertise is required to support analysis or validation of specific observations.

Additional external SMEs expertise in:

• Mountain Cell employment and staff processes;
• mountain warfare education and training;
• Lessons Learned and analysis;
• doctrine and standardisation;
• C4I/BMS;
• UAS and experimentation; and
• related capability development.

Their contribution will support broader analysis, validation of observations and the development of practical recommendations for future Mountain Cell training and development.

Aim

The aim of the workshop is to analyse and validate significant observations collected during the Mountain Cell activities and to develop actionable recommendations supporting improvement of the Mountain Cell concept, procedures and future training.

Purpose

The purpose of the workshop is to examine what worked, what did not, why, and what should be sustained or changed before the first Mountain Cell course iteration in 2027.

The analysis will focus on four main areas:

• Training and future course design – objectives, content, sequence, practical activities, instructor requirements and participant prerequisites.
• Mountain Cell concept and SOP – roles, responsibilities, procedures, interfaces and staff products.
• Integration into staff processes and decision-making – the contribution of the Mountain Cell to the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), other staff elements and commander decision-making.
• Experimentation and enabling capabilities – the operational contribution and limitations of digital C4I/BMS, UAS and other relevant technologies supporting Mountain Cell functions.

Experimentation findings will be used as supporting evidence within the broader Lessons Learned analysis rather than treated as stand-alone technical results.

Participants are encouraged to bring concrete observations, examples, successes and challenges from the TTT and Mountain Cell SOP Training. The workshop will focus on practical, evidence-based analysis and the development of recommendations and follow-on actions.

Expected Outcome

The workshop is expected to produce validated findings, actionable recommendations, proposed remedial actions and follow-on actions supporting refinement of Mountain Cell SOPs/TTPs, future course design, education and training, doctrine and standardisation, interoperability, capability development and further experimentation.

Administrative Information

Working days: 2–3 December 2026
Travel days: 1 and 3/4 December 2026
Location: NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence, Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia
Dress: BDU

Registered participants will receive detailed administrative and logistical information separately, including accommodation, transportation, meals and any applicable participation fee.

Engage. Learn. Advance – together in mountain warfare!