INNSBRUCK, Austria - When a U.S. team competed in the international military mountaineering contest for the first time in 2019, it made history as the first team ever to finish the competition on its inaugural attempt, placing 13th out of 23 teams.
In two days, teams cover 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) of rugged Austrian Alps terrain with up to 14,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain, completing various military tasks at 12 stations. They carry a litter with their equipment — both for challenges and in case of real casualty situations.
U.S. National Guard Soldiers — from Vermont, home of the Army Mountain Warfare School and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), and the Connecticut National Guard — returned to Austria this year to compete in the biennial event. This time, the 16-member U.S. team competed in two groups. Both finished; one cracked the top 10.
“We all pretty much call it Type 2 fun,” said Connecticut National Guard Capt. Scott Stone. “Which is basically ... not, ‘Ha ha, we’re all having a good time fun,’ but it’s one of those things that, once you’re done with it, it’s a really awesome experience.”
Austria and Vermont have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since May 2022. But their ties go back to 1983 when the Vermont Guard opened the Army Mountain Warfare School.
(Includes information from articles by Timothy Koster, Connecticut National Guard Public Affairs Office, and Army Capt. Mikel Arcovitch, Joint Force Headquarters – Vermont National Guard Public Affairs)