bmc - basic mountaineering course

Packing list

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Courses material and scope

Basic Mountaineering Course (Download the Student Handout)

a. Scope. This 15 day course trains selected Soldiers in the fundamental knowledge/skills required to successfully conduct small unit operations in typical, mountainous terrain found throughout the world. Emphasis is placed on developing the Level 1 mountaineering tasks described in FM 3-97.61, Appendix A. Graduates are awarded SQI "E", Military Mountaineer IAW DA PAM 611-21, Table 12-1.

b. Prerequisites.

(1) Enlisted personnel. E4 through E7.

(2) Warrant/commissioned officer. WO1, CW2/O1 and O2 platoon level leaders.

(3) Cadets are authorized to attend this course.

(4) No P-2 or temporary profile(s) under the P, U, or L columns of the physical profile serial code (numerical) (PULHES) code.

(5) All students must meet minimum physical training and height and weight standards and have no temporary or permanent profile restricting exposure to cold temperatures.

(6) No security clearance is required.

(7) Soldiers not meeting the prerequisites listed above will get approval from the Commander, USANWTC, prior to the start of the course.

c. Reporting instructions. The Basic Mountaineering Course begins at 0730 on the published start date and ends at 1000 on the end date. Due to limited parking at the Black Rapids Training Site, privately owned vehicles and individual, government-vehicle travel is not authorized. The Northern Warfare Training Center is responsible for transportation from FWA to the Black Rapids Training Site and return. DPTSM will arrange bus transportation if there will be at least 10 people attending from FRA. The unit is responsible for travel to/from Black Rapids if there will be fewer than 10 people traveling from FRA. There is no separate issue facility at Black Rapids Training Site; soldiers arriving without the prescribed clothing and equipment items may be denied admission to the course. There are no post exchange facilities at the Black Rapids Training Site; attendees must bring adequate personal hygiene items/sundries to last the duration of the course.

Special note: Personnel from FWA report to Building 3479, at 0800, on the report date. An equipment layout will be conducted prior to in processing.

Students MUST have a Field Meal Card issued by their unit

Preparation for BMC

You must show up to the BMC in excellent physical condition and mentally
prepared for long days that include a lot of information. Some
recommendations for preparation:

    (1) Prepare physically. You may be surprised by the physical demands of
the course. The physical requirements require you to travel moderate distances with a rucksack (up to 10 km with 60 lbs) over difficult terrain, often under inclement weather conditions. If you are not prepared physically, you will fall behind in learning the new skills required for the
course. Break in your boots prior to the course. Conduct foot marches in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 45 pound rucksack 2-3 times per week. Short intense workouts with body weight or light weights 4-6 times per week increase all aspects of fitness. www.Crossfit.com and www.Crossfitendurance.com post excellent daily workouts that are available for free.

    (2) Prepare mentally: You are required to learn a lot of information and new skills in a relatively short period of time. Download the student handout (listed above) prior to the course. Familiarize yourself with the entire manual - scroll through the document for about two hours and read areas that interest you. Learn the rope terms and as many of the knots as you can prior to the course. Illustrated methods for tying many of these knots are located at
http://www.animatedknots.com/ . You should also review basic land navigation principles - plotting a point on a map, determining elevation on a map, terrain features etc.

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