After twenty challenging weeks in the mountains, four Austrian soldiers completed the summer part of the binational army mountain guide course at the end of October. In addition to the Austrians, seven German, one Dutch and one Belgian soldier also took part in the course. Part of the long journey that will take the future army mountain guides throughout Europe is already behind them. They will continue their training in the winter.
At the first station of the course in the Franconian Jura, the soldiers were taught the basic skills of rock climbing. After all, a solid foundation in climbing technique is a basic requirement for completing military missions in the high mountains. Once the course participants were able to safely navigate short, well-secured sport climbing routes and had a basic knowledge of belaying and rope techniques, the next challenge followed: alpine climbing in the Wilder Kaiser in Tyrol. Here they had to master longer and longer routes using mobile safety equipment and rock bolts.
The first exam of the summer section placed very high demands on the participants: the mountain guide candidates first had to plan their tours and then carry them out completely independently. Numerous challenging test tours were completed in the Dolomites, including some alpine north faces, which placed high demands on physical and mental performance. In order to prepare the soldiers for the climax in Chamonix, France, they had to complete an ice training course at the foot of the Wildspitze. Moving around in glaciated terrain requires not only crevasse rescue techniques but also the classic guiding technique of a mountain guide: the so-called “leading on a short rope”. Chamonix, the Mecca of alpinism, demanded all the skills that an army mountain guide must have in the high mountains at a very high level. And the Austrian soldiers delivered a top performance there: The ascent of Mont Blanc du Tacul via the “Devil’s Ridge” in 17 hours took them to their performance limits under the supervision of the training team.
In addition to mountaineering skills, army mountain guides must also be able to carry out military missions – with the appropriate combat equipment and in combat situations. This is why their training also includes special leadership techniques, organized mountain rescue, army air rescue and mountain combat. After completing the summer part of the army mountain guide course, the participants now complete blasting training. This is followed by a well-earned vacation phase before the winter part begins at the start of the following year. As a specialist for operations in the mountains, the army mountain guide forms the backbone of the Austrian mountain troops and is highly respected internationally. The achievements of the army mountain guides in countless operations at home and abroad confirm the quality of this training.
