United States of America

Army Mountain Warfare School
05465 Jericho

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Historical Overview
Established in 1983 as a result of “Project Green Mountain”, the United States Army’s Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) currently consists of four progressive courses of instruction (Basic Summer, Basic Winter, Assault Climber Summer, and Assault Climber Winter). The design of each level is to prepare warriors to operate in a mountainous and cold weather environment. The Army Mountain Warfare School is the only TRADOC-approved Schoolhouse authorized to provide the Skill Qualification Identifier (SQI) “E”, Military Mountaineer, to the Army. The Army Mountain Warfare School was established in April 1983 to train the only mountain unit in the Force Structure, the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (MTN). The curriculum design broadens the warriors knowledge and hence the unit’s capabilities. The curriculum is designed to enable the warrior to operate in a mountainous and cold weather environment in both the summer and winter and to enable him to assist his command in planning for operations in that terrain and environment. The prime educational technique employed throughout most of the course is the small group participatory learning process. The Army Mountain Warfare School is the Executive Agent for Military Mountaineering for its proponent, the United States Army Infantry School. The School is responsible for the content of Field Manual 3-97.71, Military Mountaineering. The School is the only non-European Permanent Member of the International Association of Military Mountain Schools (IAMMS). The Army Mountain Warfare School curriculum is broken down into four two-week courses with three general type of mountain-specific skills taught in each; individual, small unit and medical. The Basic Military Mountaineer Courses must be completed before the Assault Climber Courses. The training focus is on seeding the Force Structure with warriors capable of assisting their unit to move through and sustain themselves in the harsh mountain environment.