From Theory to Summit: Training Leaders in Mountain Warfare

From 10 to 21 March 2025, the NATO MW COE conducted the Small Unit Leaders Course (SULC), hosting 21 officers and NCOs from 8 different countries. SULC is primarily designed to develop leadership, interoperability, and a comprehensive understanding of mountainous terrain and weather, along with critical decision-making and fundamental practical skills required for operating in challenging mountain environments.

During the two-week training, students participated in a combination of theoretical instruction and practical field exercises, gaining valuable experience in navigation, route planning, risk assessment, and, most importantly, teamwork under extreme conditions. This iteration of the course was uniquely enhanced with Risk Management Workshop, another integrated MW COE event. This provided students with additional insights into modern warfare, the development of new technologies and procedures, and reinforced their knowledge of mountainous terrain.

Ultimately, the course successfully achieved its educational objectives, enabling the MW COE to develop new Mountain Warfare specialists and contribute to the further dissemination of Mountain Warfare standards among the participating countries.