SMEs Attend High Mountain Team Leader Course in Georgia

In August and September 2024, subject matter experts (SMEs) from the Education and Training Branch participated in the High Mountain Team Leader Course (HMTLC) at the Sachkhere Mountain Training School in Georgia. As one of NATO’s Partnership Training and Education Centers, Sachkhere offers specialized mountain warfare courses to participants from NATO, PfP, MD, ICI, and PatG nations, enhancing their ability to operate in challenging environments.

This advanced course culminates a structured mountain warfare training program, following the completion of basic and intermediate summer and winter courses. The HMTLC included demanding high-altitude training, such as glacier crossing, crevasse navigation, rescue techniques, and live-fire tactical exercises at altitudes up to 2,500 meters. One of the course’s key highlights was the ascent of Mount Kazbek, a peak reaching 5,054 meters, which tested participants’ physical endurance and teamwork under extreme conditions.

For the Education and Training Branch, this experience was invaluable. It reinforced their knowledge of tactical military mountaineering, improved practical teamwork in multinational groups, and allowed them to compare and refine training standards with other nations. The course also provided a broader understanding of the Caucasus region’s strategic importance, a geopolitically sensitive area shaped by conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

By attending the HMTLC, the Education and Training Branch gained critical skills and firsthand experience, ensuring they are better prepared for future challenges in mountainous environments and multinational military operations. This training not only strengthens their operational readiness but also enhances their capacity to contribute to global peace and security in some of the world’s most difficult terrains.