This is a two-week course, taught at the U.S. Army Northern Warfare Training Center, Fort Greely, Alaska.
It teaches students survival techniques in northern climates, as well as basic skills of military mountaineering. Subjects include rock and ice climbing, cold weather survival, rappelling and inland waterway operations.
Arctic, subarctic, and mountain environments are brutally unforgiving to the unprepared. Units that have successfully fought in these environments have historically been those with special individual skills, are physically and mentally tough, and have extensive experience and expertise operating in harsh conditions. A Soldier trained in winter is also a good summer fighter; trained only in summer he is helpless in the winter!
Cadets attending Northern Warfare School must be graduates of the Leader Development and Assessment Course.
