The École militaire de haute montagne (High Mountain Military School) (ÉMHM) is a training establishment of the
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
, that trains French and allied service personnel in
mountain warfare
Mountain warfare (also known as alpine warfare) is warfare in mountains or similarly rough terrain. Mountain ranges are of strategic importance since they often act as a natural border, and may also be the origin of a water source (for example, t ...
,
skiing
Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IO ...
,
mountain leadership, and
arctic warfare
Cold-weather warfare, also known as arctic warfare or winter warfare, encompasses military operations affected by snow, ice, thawing conditions or cold, both on land and at sea. Cold-weather conditions occur year-round at high elevation or at ...
.
History
The ''École de haute montagne'' (High Mountain School) was created in
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ( frp, Chamôni), more commonly known as Chamonix, is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. In 2019, it had ...
in 1932, becoming the world's first specialist training school for mountain troop leaders. The aims of the school were to teach mountain instructors, and to test and development of technical equipment and armaments.
In August 1939 the majority of École de haute montagne's cadres joined the 199th Battalion Chasseurs de haute montagne, whose role was to defend France's
alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
borders.
The school's mission changed in 1945 to train mountain and ski specialists for the entire Army. In 1947 the French Military Ski Team was formed, under the Commissariat for Military Sports, it was supported and managed by the EHM.
In 1948 the
Chamonix Mountain Relief Society, the doctors of the School participated with the rescue team to provide emergency relief and aid in the
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (french: Mont Blanc ; it, Monte Bianco , both meaning "white mountain") is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, rising above sea level. It is the second-most prominent mountain in Europe, after Mount Elbrus, and i ...
area.
The first section of volunteer NCOs were incorporated into the EHM in 1961. On the initiative of
Colonel Gonnet, then commander of the EHM, an international military rally of mountain troops was created in 1963. In addition to France, the four other alpine nations (
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
) participated. In 1966 the EHM was redesignated as the École militaire de haute montagne.
In 1981 the High Mountain Military Group (Groupe militaire de haute montagne, GMHM) was relocated from
Grenoble
lat, Gratianopolis
, commune status = Prefecture and commune
, image = Panorama grenoble.png
, image size =
, caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...
where it had been created 5 years prior, to settle at the EMHM.
Brevets
All mountain brevets are all available in summer and winter.
*The Brevet d'alpiniste et de skieur militaire(mountaineering and military skier's certificate, BASM) composed of:
**Brevet de skieur militaire (Military skier's certificate or BSM)
**Brevet d'alpiniste militaire (Military mountaineering certificate or BAM)
*Chef d'équipe haute montagne (High Mountain Team Leader, CEHM)
**CEHM Summer
**CEHM winter
***on a technical level, the CEHM is the equivalent of the BQTM but is only intended for
corporal
Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non ...
s and
master corporals.
*Brevet de qualification des troupes de montagne (Mountain Qualification Qualification Certificate, BQTM)
**summer qualification, four week course
**winter qualification, which also lasts four weeks
*Chef de détachement haute montagne (detachment high mountain leader, CDHM, for non-commissioned officers) or Chef d'unité de haute montagne (unit of high mountain leader, CUHM, for officers), these patents correspond to the same formation
**A summer course of 6 weeks
**A winter course of 6 weeks
*Brevet supérieur de technicien de l'armée de terre (Senior Army Technician Certificate, BSTAT) Mountain Option
*Brevet de guide de haute montagne (
mountain guide
A mountain guide is a specially trained and experienced professional mountaineer who is certified by local authorities or mountain guide associations. They are considered to be high-level experts in mountaineering, and are hired to instruct or ...
certificate)
There are then other qualifications which, although not specific to mountain troops, were created and developed within the High Mountain Military School (EMHM), including the three paragliding pilot licenses (Brevet A, B, and C) each having a higher qualification level. Example: The C-card is for all-weather solo flights, all sites, and night flights.
See also
*
List of mountain warfare forces
Many countries around the world maintain military units that are specifically trained for mountain troops tasks. The list does not include non-mountain special forces units, even if several of them have some mountain warfare capabilities.
Abkha ...
*
Chasseurs Alpins
The ''chasseurs alpins'' ( en, Alpine Rangers) are the elite mountain infantry force of the French Army. They are trained to operate in mountainous terrain and in urban warfare.
History
France created its own mountain corps in the late 19th ...
*
Mountain Leader Training Cadre
The Mountain Leader Training Cadre is a training element of the United Kingdom's Royal Marines which provides instruction in mountain warfare, arctic warfare, cold weather survival and operations, and cliff assault. The cadre has a permanent staf ...
*
Mountain Warfare Training Center
The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickel Meadows on California State Route 108 at above sea level in the Toiyabe National Forest, northwest of Bridgeport, California. The train ...
*
Army Mountain Warfare School
The Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS) is a United States Army school located at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont to train soldiers in mountain warfare, the specialized skills required for operating in mountainous terra ...
*
Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor
Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor (formerly known as La Posta Mountain Warfare Training Facility) in San Diego County, California is a training facility used by the Naval Special Warfare Center. At elevation, it is east of San Di ...
*
High Altitude Warfare School
The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) is a National security, defence service training and research establishment of the Indian Army. In 1948, the Indian Army established a ski school in Gulmarg that later became the High Altitude Warfare Scho ...
*
Hatsavita Mountain Warfare Training Centre
The Hatsavita Mountain Training Center is a Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia) (or MVD) training facility located in Labinsk, Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia. The MVD, together with the Federal Security Service (FSB), carries out most interna ...
References
External links
EFMS official siteOfficial siteGMHM official siteCoFAT official site
{{Authority control
Mountain warfare training installations
Training establishments of the French Army
1932 establishments in France