US Army Mountain Warfare School Patch - 5" Diameter, Merrowed Edge, Wax Backing

Description

5" Diameter US Army - "Vermont National Guard Mountain Warfare School" Embroidered Patch.  Merrowed Edge, Wax Backing. GREAT DETAIL
The Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School was established in Jericho, Vermont on April 5th, 1983 to train Alpha Company, subsequently the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry (Mountain) as the first unit in an Army Regimental Mountain Concept Plan. The 3rd Battalion later expanded to become the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), headquartered in Jericho, Vermont. TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command) approved the Mountain Warfare School’s POI (Program of Instruction) in 1986. The School now teaches basic, advanced and specialty mountain warfare courses, and provides additional mission specific training to United States and foreign military forces in a variety of countries.
In 1994 the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School was designated the producer of the Skill Qualification Identifier – E “Military Mountaineer.”
In 2003 the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School became the United States Army Mountain Warfare School. As such it was designated the Executive Agent for military mountaineering with the United States Army Infantry School (USAIS) as its proponent and became responsible for teaching both active and reserve component soldiers.
In 2005 members of the Army Mountain Warfare School deployed to Afghanistan in support of CJTF76 and provided mountain warfare and cold weather training to a variety of US and Afghan conventional and special operations forces. The team also contributed to the OEF high-altitude/highangle personnel recovery plan for downed aircraft crew and passengers.
TRADOC approved single phase qualification for the BMMC (Basic Military Mountaineer Course) in 2008. Previously a soldier had to attend both a winter and summer phase in order to complete the course, earn the SQI-E and be awarded the Ram’s Head Device.
In 2010 the Army Mountain Warfare School began sending instructors on deployments to Afghanistan with the Asymmetric Warfare Group to serve as subject matter experts on mountain warfare for units in combat and to gather lessons learned to incorporate into courses upon their return. The Army Mountain Warfare School has been designated a “School of Excellence” multiple times through USAIS accreditation and continues to provide relevant, sustainable, mission focused mountain warfare training worldwide.
“The Gods of the hills are not the Gods of the valleys.” – Ethan Allen
Ram's Head Device:
The Military Mountaineer Badge, commonly known as the Ram’s Head Device, is a representation of a dall ram head, approximately one inch square. In the 1950s, the United States Army Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command at Fort Carson and Camp Hale, Colorado adopted the Ram’s Head Device as the badge worn by their cadre. The badge marked an individual as an expert in mountain warfare. In 1983, the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School was established in Jericho, Vermont. The Ram’s Head Device was adopted as the Military Mountaineer Badge denoting successful completion of the Basic Military Mountaineer Course and awarding of the Skill Qualification Identifier – E “Military
Mountaineer.” In 2003 the Vermont Army Mountain Warfare School became the United States Army Mountain Warfare School. The Army Mountain Warfare School continues to award the Ram’s Head Device to soldiers who complete the Basic Military Mountaineer Course. The Ram’s Head was chosen in recognition of the sacrifices our mountain soldiers made during World War II and the proud tradition of the United States Army’s past mountain warfare training institutions.
The School:
The school teaches a number of courses to train soldiers of the army (including the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and ROTC Cadets) in military operations in mountainous areas. Graduates of the Basic Military Mountaineer Course (BMMC) receive the special qualification identifier (SQI) of "E," Military Mountaineer.
The school runs 'summer' sessions focusing on rock climbing and high-angle tactical combat, and 'winter' courses that also include winter travel, camping, and survival skills. The basic and advanced courses of instruction trains individual soldiers, not units. These soldiers then return to their units to provide at least some training and experience in mountain warfare throughout the U.S. Army. Unit training, both at the AMWS and at the requesting unit's location, can also be provided.
The school was established in April 1983 to train members of the 3rd Battalion, 172 Infantry Regiment (Mountain) then consisting of company-sized units from several New England states. Enrollment was opened over the years to include members of all branches of the armed services, Federal law enforcement and foreign armies. The curriculum design broadens the soldier's knowledge and unit’s capabilities. The curriculum is designed to enable the soldier to operate in mountains and cold and to enable him to assist in planning operations. The school uses a small group participatory learning process.
The school conducts three primary courses of instruction (Basic Military Mountaineer, Advanced Military Mountaineer (Summer) and Advanced Military Mountaineer (Winter). Each level is to prepare soldiers to operate in mountains year-round and in cold, snowy, and/or icy environments. The Army Mountain Warfare School is the only institution that awards the Skill Qualification Identifier (SQI) “E,” Military Mountaineer. (Note: as of recently the identifier can be earned through a BMC course led by 10th SF Group at Fort Carson.)
The school is the executive agent for military mountaineering for the United States Army Infantry School. The school is responsible for the content of Field Manual 3–97.61, Military Mountaineering. The school is the only non-European permanent member of the International Association of Military Mountain Schools (IAMMS).
The curriculum is broken down into a two-week course, with three general type of mountain-specific skills taught in each: individual, small unit, and medical. The Basic Military Mountaineer Course is a prerequisite to attend the Advanced Military Mountaineer Course. The training focus is on providing the force structure with soldiers capable of assisting their units in mountainous environments. Courses for the Basic and Advanced Mountaineering Courses run monthly from May through October and January through March.
This school is not to be confused with the Mountain phase of Ranger School.
ROTC
It is very common for Army ROTC cadets to attend AMWS as a specialty school during ROTC. Cadets take the course during the summer as they are in school, and training during the school season. Other ROTC summer schools include: Airborne School, Air Assault School, Combat Diver Qualification Course, Drill Cadet Leadership Training, and Northern Warfare.