MOUNTAIN WARFARE SMALL UNITS LEADER COURSE
The aim of this course is to provide mountain light infantry and light infantry platoon / company commanders with specific knowledge of movement, survival and planning of operations in mountain terrain in all weather conditions. The course is designed for NATO and Partner members requiring the particular knowledge and skills necessary to safely and efficiently operate in the complex terrain and climatic conditions of the mountain environment.
Structure of the Course:
The two-week course is comprised of four parts: leadership, movement, survival and tactics, and is partly carried out in the field, with certain topics lectured in the classroom. The first week focuses on the introduction of the specifics of the mountain environment, familiarization with military mountaineering equipment, use of various rope techniques, and explaining how to move in difficult terrain, as well as survival and rescue in the mountain environment and the role of mountain SMEs in the preparation and execution of training and military operations. In the second part of the first week, the students will learn about the influence of climate and terrain specifics on combat functions. In the second week, the course participants will be faced with a tactical situation in order to become able to overcome the challenges of fighting in areas where technological supremacy can be negated by even the most crude and non-technical enemy actions. During the course, Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) will be applied.
Learning performance:
• Describe all types of military mountaineering equipment and its proper use.
• Apply the preliminary procedures for the prevention of objective and subjective hazards in the mountains.
• Advise on the production of a route plan, and control equipment and team members.
• Know the practical execution of movement in the mountainous area.
• Apply procedures for the independent building and securing of crossing over natural and manmade obstacles.
• Apply knowledge of various mountaineering terminology forms, master practical navigation in mountainous terrain and apply knowledge of the weather influences in mountainous areas.
• Perform underlying rescue task in mountain combat conditions.
• Command, or advise the commander on, the planning of mountain operations with platoon/COY level units and guide sub-level units in all kinds of mountain warfare activities.
Each student must successfully achieve all the Enabling Objectives in order to acquire knowledge and skills as follows:
Knowledge:
• Knows the combat principles of mountain warfare and is able to transfer these in real-life planning and situations in a mission/task.
• Knows the basics of military leadership and general theories and styles.
• Knows the effect of good leadership outside the comfort zone in difficult situations in mountainous terrain.
• Knows the basics of acclimatization planning (hypoxia planning).
• Knows the signs/indicators of mountain illness and oedemas.
• Knows their tactical and mountaineering assets and knows how to plan (use) them in line with task organization.
Skills:
• Ability to generate a functional engagement plan with tactical elements relating to the actual mountainous and tactical requirements.
• Ability to generate a functional engagement plan with few local reserves due to the actual mountainous and tactical requirements (notice to move/movability/paths/notice to be in contact, etc.).
• Ability to plan the sustainability of the unit (sub-unit) in the short and long-term in difficult terrain (relief/medical evacuation/evacuation facilities, etc.).
• Ability to plan and order missions and tasks to tactical elements leaders in difficult terrain in accordance with the engagement plan.
• Ability to model the way.
• Ability to encourage others to act.
• Ability to deal with lack of information and with information overflow in order to fulfill a military task/mission.
• Ability to create a sustainable rotating shift schedule with regard to mission, backpack-logistics, regeneration and threats (weather and terrain).
• Ability to plan replacement and reserves employment.
• Ability to make calculations due to time, space and weather for supply and reserves (meticulous planning).
• Ability to practise decentralized decision-making within the superior commander’s intent.
• Ability to coach and advise subordinate leaders in MW.
• Ability to demonstrate authorized field expedients
